V 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2018  with  funding  from 
University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


https://archive.org/details/yearbookfor1915a00illi 


STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 

STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 

FRANK  W.  DE  WOLF.  Director 


bulletin  No. ftflN0|S  STATE  LIBRARY 

JAN  23  1989 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  19 


ILLINOIS  DOCUMENTS 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 

AND 

EGONOMIG  AND  GEOLOGICAL  PAPERS 


Work  in  cooperation  with  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 


PRINTED  BY  AUTHORITY  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS 
URBAN A 
1916 


jrfT  7 

G'b 

cU 


STATE  GEOLOGICAL  COMMISSION 

Edward  F.  Dunne,  Chairman 
Governor  of  Illinois 

Thomas  C.  Chamberlin,  Vice-Chairman 

Edmund  J.  James,  Secretary 
President  of  the  University  of  Illinois 


Frank  W.  DeWolf,  Director 
Fred  H.  Kay,  Asst.  State  Geologist 


LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL 


State  Geological  Survey, 
University  of  Illinois,  November  3,  1916. 

Governor  E.  F.  Dunne,  Chairman,  and  Members  of  the  Geological  Com¬ 
mission, 

Gentlemen: — I  submit  herewith  my  administrative  report  for  the  fiscal 
year  ended  June  30,  1916,  accompanied  by  miscellaneous  papers  of  economic 
interest,  and  recommend  that  they  be  published  as  Bulletin  No.  33. 

Three  of  the  papers  have  appeared  as  extracts  from  this  bulletin,  but 
the  report  on  mineral  resources  of  Illinois  in  1915  and  the  oil  reports  for 
the  Birds  and  Vincennes  quadrangles  are  published  for  the  first  time. 

Very  respectfully, 

Frank  W.  DeWolf,  Director . 


GONTENTS 

PAGE 

1.  ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT,  BY  F.  W.  DeWOLF .  11 

2.  MINERAL  RESOURCES  OF  ILLINOIS  IN  1915,  BY  H.  J.  SKEWES  27 

3.  PETROLEUM  IN  ILLINOIS  IN  1914  AND  1915,  BY  FRED  H.  KAY.  71 

4.  GEOLOGIC  STRUCTURE  OF  CANTON  AND  AVON  QUAD¬ 

RANGLES,  BY  T.  E.  SAVAGE .  91 

5.  NOTES  ON  BREMEN  ANTICLINE,  RANDOLPH  COUNTY,  BY 

FRED  H.  KAY .  101 

6.  OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE,  BY  JOHN  L.  RICH  105 

7.  OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE,  BY  JOHN 

L.  RICH  .  147 


Plan  of  third  floor,  Ceramics  Building,  occupied  by  the  Illinois  State  Geological  Survey 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT  FROM  JULY  1,  1915 

TO  JUNE  30,  1916 

By  F.  W.  DeWoli,  Director 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction  .  12 

General  statement  .  12 

Organization  and  personnel .  12 

Cooperation  .  14 

Geological  section  .  15 

General  stratigraphy  .  15 

Coal  .  15 

Oil  and  gas  . 16 

Ground  water  .  17 

Clay  .  17 

Educational  bulletins  .  17 

Overflowed  lands  .  18 

Mineral  statistics .  18 

Bureau  of  information  .  18 

Topographic  and  drainage  sections  .  18 

Publications  .  21 

Reports  .  21 

Maps  . 21 

Expenditures  .  22 

Recommendations  .  23 

Needs  of  the  Geological  Survey .  23 

Form  of  appropriations  .  25 

Consolidation  of  State  bureaus  .  25 

PLATE 

1.  Map  showing  progress  of  topographic  surveys .  18 

TABLE 

1- — Progress  of  field  work  by  the  topographic  and  drainage  sections .  20 

2.  — Total  expenditures  July  1,  1915  to  June  30,  1916 .  22 


(11) 


12 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Introduction 

GENERAL  STATEMENT 

During  the  fiscal  year  1915-1916,  the  Geological  Survey  completed  a 
large  amount  of  work  on  coal,  oil  and  gas,  ground  water,  clay,  drainage, 
and  educational  bulletins.  The  usual  amount  of  topographic  mapping  was 
done. 

The  office  was  moved  at  the  close  of  the  year  to  the  new  Ceramics 
Building  at  the  University,  where  ample  space  is  provided  for  office,  library, 
and  laboratory  work  of  all  kinds.  The  beauty  of  the  building  and  the  prac¬ 
tical  arrangement  of  rooms  are  illustrated  by  the  frontispiece.  The  Survey 
is  now  better  housed  than  any  State  Survey,  and  will  doubtless  be  better 
able  to  work  efficiently  and  economically. 

organization  and  personnel 

The  Survey  included  a  general  office  section  and  two  technical  sec¬ 
tions, — Geologic  and  Topographic,  as  before.  Cooperation  was  maintained 
with  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  two  engineers  of  which  are  located  at 
Urbana.  The  geologic  section  was  administered  by  F.  W.  DeWolf,  Direc¬ 
tor,  and  F.  H.  Kay,  Assistant  Director.  The  topographic  section  was  in 
general  charge  of  R.  B.  Marshall,  Chief  Geographer,  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey,  until  his  appointment  as  Superintendent  of  National  Parks  and 
the  appointment  of  Sledge  Tatum  as  Acting  Chief  Geographer.  After  the 
death  of  Mr.  Tatum  the  work  of  administration  was  taken  up  by  W.  H. 
Herron,  former  Geographer  of  the  Central  Division  for  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey,  who  was  appointed  Acting  Chief  Geographer.  The  U.  S.  Bureau 
of  Mines  is  represented  by  H.  I.  Smith  and  J.  R.  Fleming,  under  the  gen¬ 
eral  supervision  of  G.  S.  Rice. 

Miss  C.  H.  Thory  acted  in  the  capacity  of  Chief  Clerk,  assisted  by  Miss 
Faith  Neighbour,  as  stenographer  and  clerk. 

Professors  Salisbury,  Grant,  and  Barrows  continued  to  serve  as  con¬ 
sulting  geologists,  and  professors  Parr  and  Bartow  as  consulting  chemists. 
R.  T.  Stull,  Ceramist,  was  in  general  charge  of  the  clay  studies  until  he  re¬ 
signed  from  the  University  of  Illinois  to  accept  a  private  position;  his 
work  was  taken  up  by  R.  K.  Hursh. 

Professors  Weller,  Savage,  and  Salisbury  have  given  part  time  service 
to  the  Survey  as  geologists.  G.  H.  Cady,  Assistant  Geologist,  spent  one 
month  on  the  study  of  the  La  Salle  anticline  and  the  remainder  of  his  time 
has  been  divided  between  quadrangle  work  and  mining  studies.  Wallace 
Lee  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  mapped  the  Shawneetown  and  part 
of  the  Equality  quadrangles  in  cooperation  with  the  State  Geological  Sur¬ 
vey.  Fred  H.  Kay,  Assistant  State  Geologist,  completed  a  report  on  the 
coal  resources  of  the  Danville  district.  He  then  took  up  the  oil  work  of 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 


13 


the  Survey  and  spent  two  months  in  the  field  for  a  report  on  the  oil  in¬ 
dustry.  A  considerable  amount  of  his  time  was  given  over  to  administrative 
work.  T.  E.  Savage  and  J.  L.  Rich  made  new  surveys  of  the  Birds  and 
Vincennes  quadrangles  and  revised  work  on  the  Hardinville  and  Sumner 
quadrangles.  C.  B.  Anderson  continued  work  on  artesian  water  resources 
of  northeastern  Illinois  and  submitted  his  report  at  the  end  of  the  year. 

Coal  analyses  and  various  chemical  studies  were  carried  on  by  J.  M. 
Lindgren  and  D.  F.  McFarland,  chemists,  under  the  general  direction  of 
Professor  Parr  of  the  University  of  Illinois.  Helen  Skewes,  Assistant 
Geologist,  continued  in  charge  of  the  technical  files  and  of  editing  Survey 
publications.  W.  S.  Nelson  acted  as  Draftsman  and  Engineer. 

A  number  of  other  men  served  for  short  periods  of  time  in  the  field 
and  office.  The  organization  of  the  Survey  was  as  follows : 

COMMISSIONERS 

Governor  E.  F.  Dunne,  Chairman 
Professor  T.  C.  Chamberlin,  Vice-Chairman 
President  E.  J.  James,  Secretary. 

ADMINISTRATIVE  WORK 

F.  W.  DeWolf.  Director 

Fred  H.  Kay,  Assistant  State  Geologist 

C.  H.  Thory,  Chief  Clerk 


geological  section 

F.  W.  DeWolf,  Geologist 

R.  D.  Salisbury,  Consulting  Geologist 
U.  S.  Grant,  Consulting  Geologist 
Harlan  H.  Barrows,  Consulting  Geologist 

S.  W.  Parr,  Consulting  Chemist 
Edward  Bartow.  Consulting  Chemist 
Stuart  Weller,  Geologist 

T.  E.  Savage,  Geologist 
Fred  H.  Kay,  Geologist 

G.  H.  Cady,  Geologist 

C.  B.  Anderson,  Assistant  Geologist 
J.  L.  Rich,  Assistant  Geologist 

W.  C.  Morse,  Assistant  Geologist 
Helen  Skewes,  Assistant  Geologist 
Wallace  Lee,  Assistant  Geologist 
R.  T.  Stull,  Ceramist 
R.  K.  Hursh,  Ceramist 
J.  M.  Lindgren,  Chemist 

D.  F.  McFarland,  Chemist 

W.  S.  Nelson,  Engineering  Draftsman 
M.  K.  Read,  Field  Assistant 
J.  H.  Bell,  Field  Assistant 

E.  F.  Relinquish  Field  Assistant 
O.  F.  Brooks,  Office  Assistant 


14 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


S.  T.  Wallage,  Office  Assistant 
P.  T.  Primm,  Office  Assistant 
Faith  Neighbour,  Clerk 

TOPOGRAPHIC  AND  DRAINAGE  SECTION 

The  following  members  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  were 
engaged  in  the  field  work  under  cooperative  agreement : 

Topographic  mapping — 

C.  W.  Goodlove,  Topographic  Engineer 
Gilbert  Young,  Topographic  Engineer 
J.  A.  Duck,  Assistant  Topographer 
F.  W.  Hughes,  Assistant  Topographer 
J.  M.  Rawls,  Assistant  Topographer 
R.  L.  Harrison,  Assistant  Topographer 

L.  L.  Lee,  Assistant  Topographer 

R.  M.  Herrington,  Junior  Topographer 

M.  A.  Roudabush,  Junior  Topographer 
H.  E.  Burney,  Junior  Topographer 
W.  S.  Gehres,  Junior  Topographer 

Primary  traverse — 

J.  H.  Wilson,  Assistant  Topographer 

Levels — 

J.  M.  Rawls,  Assistant  Topographer 
R.  G.  Clinite,  Junior  Topographer 
J.  M.  Perkins,  Junior  Topographer 
W.  S.  Gehres,  Junior  Topographer 

COOPERATION 

Formal  cooperation  with  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  has  been  main¬ 
tained  in  the  topographic  work,  in  geological  surveys  on  quadrangle  areas, 
and  in  the  collection  of  mineral  statistics. 

Drainage  surveys  along  the  Pecatonica  River  were  completed  also 
in  cooperation  with  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey.  The  U.  S.  Bureau  of 
Mines  and  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station,  of  the  University  of  Illinois 
continued  to  cooperate  with  the  Geological  Survey  in  the  publication  of 
reports  by  the  Illinois  Coal  Mining  Investigations,  the  work  of  which  was 
begun  in  1912.  The  University  of  Chicago  has  kindly  furnished  office 
facilities  for  C.  B.  Anderson  while  writing  his  report. 

From  year  to  year  the  cooperation  between  the  Survey  and  various 
coal  and  oil  companies  becomes  closer  and  the  results  to  the  Survey  more 
beneficial.  The  past  year  has  witnessed  a  large  amount  of  drilling,  espe¬ 
cially  for  oil;  the  information  collected  from  various  sources  regarding 
the  drill  records  will  be  of  great  value  in  adding  to  our  knowledge  of  the 
underlying  formations. 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 


15 


Geological  Section 

The  administration  of  the  geological  section  of  the  Survey  has  been 
in  charge  of  the  Director  and  the  Assistant  Director.  A  large  amount  of 
field  work  has  been  done  and  reports  have  been  issued  on  coal,  oil,  lead, 
and  zinc,  and  general  educational  topics. 

GENERAL  STATIGRAPHY 

The  Survey  has  persisted  in  its  efforts  to  keep  up  to  date  on  all  of 
the  drilling  for  oil,  coal,  and  water.  Arrangements  have  been  made 
whereby  the  Ohio  Oil  Company  notifies  the  Survey  regarding  the  location 
of  any  new  well  being  drilled  for  oil  within  the  State,  which  greatly  facilitates 
our  securing  records.  Mr.  Morse  spent  about  two  months  in  western  Illi¬ 
nois  collecting  drill  records  from  oil  and  water  wells  in  counties  bordering 
the  Mississippi  River.  This  work  looks  forward  to  additional  field  exam¬ 
ination  of  western  Illinois  for  oil  and  gas.  Professor  Weller  continued 
studies  of  the  Missisippian  formations  of  southern  Illinois  and  the  adjacent 
parts  of  Kentucky  under  a  cooperative  arrangement  of  the  Kentucky  Sur¬ 
vey  and  the  U.  S.  Survey  with  that  of  Illinois.  The  work  seems  to  establish 
a  new  classification  which  is  satisfactory,  but  a  further  field  conference  is  to 
be  held  during  the  coming  season  in  order  to  adjust  differences  of  opinion. 
Detailed  mapping  of  the  same  area  depends  upon  the  success  of  these  prelim¬ 
inary  investigations. 

One  month  was  spent  by  Mr.  Cady  in  a  detailed  examination  of  the 
LaSalle  anticline  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State.  The  results  of  this 
examination  will  probably  be  published  in  one  of  the  year  books.  The 
stratigraphy  of  the  Birds,  Vincennes,  ITardinville,  and  Sumner  quadrangles 
was  the  subject  of  special  examinations  by  Mr.  Rich  and  Professor  Sav¬ 
age.  The  manuscript  for  geological  folios  for  these  two  sets  of  quad¬ 
rangles  was  submitted  to  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  for  publication,  and 
a  State  bulletin  on  the  same  area  is  now  ready  to  be  issued.  The  Coulter- 
ville  quadrangle  was  practically  finished  by  Mr.  Cady,  who  has  prepared 
a  report  for  combination  with  a  similar  paper  on  the  area  immediately  west. 

COAL 

A  large  amount  of  the  work  dealing  distinctly  with  coal  has  been 
carried  on  by  the  Illinois  Coal  Mining  Investigation,  under  a  cooperative 
agreement  between  the  State  Geological  Survey,  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines, 
and  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station  of  the  University  of  Illinois. 
During  the  early  part  of  the  year  a  report  by  Fred  H.  Kay  and  K.  D. 
White  on  the  coal  resources  of  the  Danville  district  was  published.  A 
similar  report  for  the  Franklin,  Williamson,  and  Jefferson  County  area  by 
G.  H.  Cady  is  in  press.  A  report  of  the  Jackson  County  area  by  Mr.  Cady 
is  ready  for  publication,  and  another  on  the  Saline-Gallatin  County  area 


16 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


is  being  prepared  by  the  same  author.  The  new  year's  work  will  take 
care  of  similar  reports  of  the  Springfield-Peoria  region  and  for  the  west¬ 
ern  Illinois  area.  After  the  completion  of  all  the  district  reports  it  is 
planned  to  publish  a  summary  report  covering  the  coal  resources  of  the 
entire  State.  This  will  be  the  most  complete  report  of  its  kind  ever  pub¬ 
lished  for  Illinois. 

Two  reports  on  evidences  of  subsidence  due  to  coal  mining  in  Illinois 
have  been  written  by  L.  E.  Young.  The  first  general  report  is  being  pub¬ 
lished  by  an  arrangement  with  the  Engineering  Experiment  Station.  The 
second  report,  referring  especially  to  Illinois,  is  ready  for  publication  and 
will  be  sent  to  press  early  in  the  fall. 

Detailed  investigation  of  the  coal  in  the  Shawneetown  and  Equality 
quadrangles  was  undertaken  by  Wallace  Lee  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Sur¬ 
vey,  in  cooperation  with  the  State  Geological  Survey.  The  work  was  not 
completed  and  will  be  continued  by  Mr.  Charles  Butts  of  the  Federal  Sur¬ 
vey  during  the  field  season  of  1916.  The  resulting  folio  will  be  one  of 
the  most  important  yet  published  for  Illinois. 

Professor  S.  W.  Parr  submitted  a  manuscript  for  Bulletin  Xo.  3  of 
the  Illinois  Coal  Mining  Investigation  entitled  “Chemical  Studies  of  Illinois 
Coals."  This  book  is  in  press  at  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  and  will  be 
ready  for  distribution  in  the  fall. 

A  report  on  clay  material  available  at  coal  mines  was  submitted  in 
September,  1915,  but  requires  some  additional  work  before  publication  on  ac¬ 
count  of  Prof.  Stull’s  resignation  from  the  University.  The  extra  work 
will  be  undertaken  by  Mr.  R.  K.  Hursh  and  it  is  expected  that  the  bulle¬ 
tin  will  be  distributed  before  January  1,  1917. 

A  coal  mine  map  of  Illinois  was  prepared  and  sent  to  the  printer 
before  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year.  The  map  contains  all  of  the  shipping 
coal  mines  in  the  State  with  a  reference  number  to  a  list  of  mines  printed 
on  the  same  sheet.  It  is  planned  to  distribute  the  map  in  AMvember. 

OIL  AND  GAS 

Production  of  petroleum  for  the  calendar  year  1915  totaled  19.041,695 
barrels  with  a  value  of  $18,655,850  as  compared  with  21,919,749  barrels 
in  1914,  with  a  value  of  $25,426,179.  Inactivity  marked  the  first  half  of 
1915  until  the  rapidly  advancing  prices  brought  a  response  in  development 
work  during  the  final  months  of  the  year.  The  Staunton  gas  field,  which 
was  predicted  by  the  Survey,  was  discovered  early  in  1915  and  develop¬ 
ment  work  continued  throughout  most  of  the  year. 

The  first  half  of  1916  witnessed  a  remarkable  rise  in  the  price  of 
crude  oil  and  a  consequent  increase  in  development  work. 

Mr.  Kay  spent  two  months  in  the  oil  fields  of  the  State  at  the  close 
of  the  calendar  year  1915  gathering  information  on  the  oil  industry,  which 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 


17 


was  published  as  Extracts  from  Bulletin  No.  33,  together  with  a  paper 
on  the  geologic  structure  of  the  Canton  and  Avon  quadrangles  by  T.  E. 
Savage.  Mr.  Kay  also  made  a  short  examination  of  the  Bremen  anticline 
in  Randolph  County  and  issued  a  report  as  Second  Extract  from  Bulletin 
No.  33.  Mr.  Nelson  and  rodman  ran  detailed  levels  in  the  Staunton  gas 
field  and  the  results  were  embodied  in  Extract  from  Bulletin  No.  33.  In 
this  paper  recommendations  were  made  for  the  extension  of  the  produc¬ 
ing  area.  J.  L.  Rich,  a  levelman,  and  two  rodmen  were  engaged  through 
the  field  season  of  1915  on  new  surveys  of  the  Birds  and  Vincennes  quad¬ 
rangles  and  on  the  revision  of  the  Hardinville  and  Sumner  quadrangles  for 
publication  as  geological  folios  and  as  State  bulletins.  T.  E.  Savage  and 
assistant  were  engaged  practically  two  months  on  the  same  area,  more  es¬ 
pecially  on  the  stratigraphy  of  the  upper  beds. 

At  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year,  Mr.  Kay  made  a  hasty  trip  through 
the  western  part  of  Illinois  for  the  purpose  of  selecting  favorable  areas  for 
geologic  work.  Detailed  structural  work  was  begun  at  the  south  end 
of  the  State.  A  preliminary  report  will  be  issued  in  September.  Because 
of  the  insistent  demands  for  information  regarding  oil  and  gas  in  this 
State,  it  is  the  policy  of  the  Survey  to  make  available  all  reliable  informa¬ 
tion  at  the  earliest  possible  date.  A  large  number  of  inquiries  regarding 
areas  favorable  for  oil  and  gas,  have  been  received  and  answered  both  in 
personal  conference  and  by  correspondence.  The  Survey  plans  to  keep  in 
close  touch  with  operations  and  to  make  readily  accessible  any  information 
that  will  be  of  value  to  the  public. 

GROUND  WATER 

Mr.  Anderson  continued  his  study  of  artesian  water  resources  of 
northeastern  Illinois  until  the  end  of  December.  Since  that  time  he  has 
given  part  time  service  to  the  preparation  of  his  report,  and  it  is  now  ready 
for  editing,  prior  to  publication.  The  bulletin  promises  to  be  of  great 
value  to  those  interested  in  the  water  supply  of  Chicago  and  vicinity. 

CLAY 

The  results  of  burning  tests  on  a  large  number  of  samples  collected 
in  1913  from  the  roof  and  floor  of  coal  mines  in  the  State  were  sub¬ 
mitted  in  a  report  by  Professor  Stull.  Some  additions  are  now  being  made 
by  R.  K.  Hursh,  and  the  bulletin  will  be  printed  during  the  fall. 

EDUCATIONAL  BULLETINS 

Bulletin  No.  26  on  the  geography  and  geology  of  the  Galena-Eliza- 
beth  area  by  A.  C.  Trowbridge,  E.  W.  Shaw,  and  B.  H.  Shockel  was 
printed  and  distributed,  and  Bulletin  No.  27  on  the  geography  of  the  upper 
Illinois  Valley  by  C.  O.  Sauer  will  be  distributed  about  October  1. 


18 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


The  geography  of  Illinois  by  Professors  Salisbury  and  Barrows  is  in 
progress.  The  latter  has  made  considerable  headway  on  a  preliminary 
study  of  historical  and  geographic  facts. 

OVERFLOWED  LANDS 

A  report  on  reclamation  of  Spoon  River  Valley  by  J.  G.  Melluish  of 
Bloomington,  under  contract  with  the  Survey,  was  sublet  by  him  for  com¬ 
pletion  to  the  Elliott  and  Harman  Engineering  Company  of  Peoria  with 
the  consent  of  the  Director.  The  report  is  now  in  the  hands  of  the  printer 
and  will  be  ready  for  distribution  about  September  15.  The  balance  of 
the  old  appropriation  for  work  on  overflowed  land  was  expended  for  a 
survey  on  the  Pecatonica  River,  in  cooperation  with  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey.  The  survey  was  undertaken  at  the  special  request  of  the  Rivers 
and  Lakes  Commission.  It  was  finished  in  November  and  the  published 
sheets  were  available  in  April. 

MINERAL  STATISTICS 

The  Survey  has  continued  to  cooperate  with  the  U.  S.  Geological 
Survey  in  the  collection  of  mineral  statistics,  and  the  results  for  the  year 
1915  are  given  on  a  later  page. 

BUREAU  OF  INFORMATION 

The  Survey  maintains  a  bureau  of  information  for  the  convenience  of 
inquirers  about  mineral  resources  of  Illinois.  Requests  are  received  in 
great  numbers  both  from  inside  and  outside  the  State.  When  possible,  a 
bulletin  containing  the  desired  information  is  mailed.  Frequently,  how¬ 
ever,  it  is  necessary  to  make  special  study  and  to  reply  by  letter  at  some 
length.  Many  requests  for  the  identification  of  minerals  are  received  and 
answered  promptly;  others  for  chemical  analysis  of  specimens  are,  for 
the  most  part,  necessarily  refused.  It  has  been  found  that  the  collec¬ 
tion  of  a  representative  sample  of  a  material  and  the  investigation  of  its 
favorable  occurrence  for  development  are  quite  as  essential  and  require 
expert  advice,  just  as  does  chemical  analysis.  As  a  rule,  therefore,  un¬ 
less  a  representative  of  the  Survey  investigates  and  samples  a  mineral 
deposit,  an  analysis  at  public  expense  is  not  justified,  particularly  because 
otherwise  Survey  funds  would  be  seriously  depleted  by  work  which  fre¬ 
quently  is  of  no  permanent  value.  Preliminary  examinations  and  opinions 
as  to  probable  value  of  minerals  are  always  cheerfully  given. 

Topographic  and  Drainage  Sections 

In  accordance  with  the  cooperative  agreements  the  Commission  al¬ 
lotted  $9,000  for  the  continuation  of  cooperative  topographic  surveys  in 
Illinois,  and  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  allotted  an  equal  amount. 
The  Commission  also  made  an  additional  allotment  of  $3,000  for  a  survey 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTER 
FRANKLIN  K.  LANE,  SECRETAP 
U.  S.  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


DEPARTMENT  OF  THE  INTERIOR 
FRANKLIN  K.  LANE.  SECRETARY 
U  S  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 
GEORGE  OTIS  SMITH  DIRECTOR 


BULL.  NO  33  PLATE  I 
ILLINOIS 

TATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 


19 


of  the  Pecatonica  Drainage  Basin,  which  was  met  by  an  allotment  of 
$1,500  by  the  Federal  Survey. 

The  following  is  a  summary  of  the  field  and  office  work  accomplished 
during  the  period  July  1,  1915,  to  June  30,  1916,  under  the  general  direc¬ 
tion  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Herron,  Acting  Chief  Geographer,  and  under  the  im¬ 
mediate  supervision  of  Mr.  Glenn  S.  Smith,  Geographer  of  the  Central 
Division. 

The  office  drafting  of  the  Morris  quadrangle  map  and  of  the  Peca¬ 
tonica  Drainage  Basin  map  was  completed.  On  June  30,  1916,  progress 
in  the  drafting  of  topographic  maps  had  been  made  as  follows:  Alten- 
berg  (Ill.)  9  per  cent;  Brownfield  (Ill.-Ky.)  98  per  cent;  Campbell  Hill 
(Ill.)  38  per  cent. 

The  adjustment  of  the  levels  for  the  Campbell  Hill,  Freeport,  Morris, 
Pecatonica,  Rockford,  Vienna,  and  Wilmington  quadrangles  was  com¬ 
pleted,  and  the  final  computation  of  geographic  positions  was  made  for 
the  Belvidere,  Campbell  Hill,  Dongola,  Essex,  Joliet,  Joppa,  Marion,  Oregon, 
Pecatonica,  Peotone,  Rockford,  Vienna,  and  Wilmington  quadrangles. 

The  methods  of  the  Pecatonica  survey  party  are  described  as  follows : 

The  horizontal  control  consisted  of  primary  traverse  run  with  transit  and  steel 
chain  lines  about  six  miles  apart,  locating  all  section  corners,  road  crossings,  et  cetera, 
along  the  line  and  establishing  permanent  marks  at  intervals  of  six  miles.  This 
control  was  then  computed  and  the  latitudes  and  longitudes  of  all  points  determined 
were  plotted  on  planetable  sheets  covering  an  area  of  7G  minutes  each  for  the  use 
of  topographers  in  the  field,  polyconic  projections  being  used. 

From  these  localized  points,  the  topographer  by  means  of  the  telescopic  alidade 
and  planetable  ran  control  lines,  using  stadia  measurements,  connecting  the  section 
comers  within  the  area  surrounding  the  primary7  traverse,  to  which  were  adjusted 
the  land  lines  by  use  of  the  Land  Office  measurements. 

The  vertical  control  was  based  on  mean  sea  level  datum  and  was  run  with  a 
20-inch  Y  level  and  New  York  rod,  using  steel  pin  for  turning  points,  the  limit  of 
closure  being  .05  V  length  of  circuit  in  miles  and  the  length  of  sights  limited  to  300 
feet.  Level  lines  were  run  on  both  sides  of  the  valley,  with  cross  lines  about  six 
miles  apart,  establishing  permanent  bench  marks  every  three  miles  and  temporary 
bench  marks  every  mile. 

With  the  control  plotted  on  a  planetable  sheet,  the  topographic  party,  consisting 
of  a  topographic  engineer,  recorder,  and  two  stadia  rodmen,  equipped  with  a  telescopic 
alidade  and  18  by  24  inch  planetable  board  mounted  on  a  Johnson  tripod,  with  a 
magnetic  compass  or  solar  chart  for  orientation,  proceeds  to  locate  the  topographic 
features  by  stadia  measurements  and  vertical  angles,  an  average  of  100  points  being 
located  to  the  square  mile,  thus  insuring  an  accurate  topographic  map. 

In  the  wooded  area  traverse  lines  were  run  at  such  intervals  as  would  insure 
the  same  degree  of  accuracy  as  in  the  open  country,  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the 
elevations  shown  by  the  contours  on  these  maps  are  correct  within  .4  foot. 

The  area  of  the  map  was  extended  to  show  the  line  of  the  bluffs  and  carried 
up  the  valleys  of  the  incoming  drainage  far  enough  to  take  care  of  the  backwater  of 
the  Pecatonica  River. 

The  methods  employed  on  the  Pecatonica  River  survey  are  very*  similar  to  those 
used  in  connection  with  the  Embarrass  and  Spoon  River  projects. 


Table  1. — Progress  of  field  work  by  the  topographic  and  drainage  sections 


20 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


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ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 


21 


Publications 

reports 

Specifications  for  printing  and  binding  Survey  reports  were  submitted 
for  bids  in  December,  and  a  contract  was  made  with  the  Pantagraph 
Printing  and  Stationery  Company  of  Bloomington,  Illinois,  with  the  ap¬ 
proval  of  the  Superintendent  of  Printing.  Publications  of  the  year  in¬ 
clude  the  following  bulletins : 

Bulletin  31  :  Oil  investigations  in  Illinois  in  1914. 

Bulletin  14 :  Illinois  Coal  Mining  Investigations :  Coal  resources  of  the  Dan¬ 
ville  area. 

Bulletin  20:  Miscellaneous  oil  and  coal  reports  and  administrative  report  for 
1910  and  1911. 

Bulletin  26:  Geology  and  geography  of  the  Galena  and  Elizabeth  quadrangles. 

The  following  Illinois  Coal  Mining  Investigations  bulletins  are  in  press  : 

Bulletin  15:  Coal  resources  of  Franklin,  Williamson,  and  Jefferson  counties,  by 
G.  H.  Cady. 

Bulletin  3 :  Chemical  studies  of  Illinois  coal,  by  Professor  S.  W.  Parr. 

Other  reports  awaiting  printing  are : 

Bulletin  27 :  Geography  of  the  upper  Illinois  Valley,  by  Carl  O.  Sauer. 

Bulletin  23  :  Miscellaneous  papers  of  1912. 

Bulletin  30:  Miscellaneous  papers  of  1913  and  1914. 

Bulletin  33 :  Administrative  report  and  miscellaneous  papers  for  1915. 

The  distribution  of  these  reports  so  as  to  prevent  waste,  and  yet  make 
them  most  widely  available,  has  been  in  itself  a  considerable  task.  It  is 
thought  that  the  interests  of  all  concerned  would  be  best  met  if  500  copies 
of  each  report  were  reserved  for  sale  at  the  cost  of  printing,  the  receipts 
from  the  sales  being  turned  into  the  State  treasury.  This  makes  it  pos¬ 
sible  for  libraries  to  complete  their  sets  and  for  persons  having  real  need 
for  any  of  the  volumes  to  obtain  the  earlier  ones  at  small  cost.  The  re¬ 
mainder  of  the  edition  is  distributed  by  the  Survey  and  the  Secretary  of 
State  to  institutions  and  individuals  making  application  for  them,  or  is 
exchanged  with  other  Surveys  or  publishing  organizations. 

Any  of  the  published  reports  will  be  sent  upon  receipt  of  the  amount 
noted.  Money  orders,  drafts,  and  checks  should  be  made  payable  to 
F.  W.  DeWolf,  Director. 


MAPS 

A  coal  mine  map  of  the  State  is  being  published  on  the  scale  of  our 
large  base  map.  Shipping  coal  mines  are  located  hy  symbols,  with  a 
number  which  refers  to  a  printed  list  of  mines  and  addresses.  The  map 
should  be  ready  for  distribution  in  September. 

Contracts  have  been  let  for  topographic  maps  of  Clinton  and  Monroe 
counties,  and  are  being  considered  for  Gallatin  and  Lawrence  counties. 


22 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


In  the  spring  of  1917  similar  maps  for  Randolph  and  Hardin  counties  will 
be  ready  for  engraving.  The  publication  of  maps  on  a  county-unit  basis 
seems  to  be  very  popular  and  probably  should  be  kept  in  mind  in  the  selec¬ 
tion  of  quadrangles  for  topographic  survey  from  year  to  year.  The  work 
proposed  for  the  coming  year  will  complete  McDonough  County. 

The  accompanying  illustration  (PI.  I)  shows  the  areas  for  which 
topographic  maps  have  been  prepared  in  cooperation  with  the  U.  S.  Geolo¬ 
gical  Survey.  Those  already  published  may  be  obtained  from  this  office 
by  remitting  10  cents  for  each  copy.  As  the  maps  do  not  conform  to 
county  lines,  those  desired  should  be  ordered  by  quadrangle  name. 

The  topographic  maps  are  distributed  also  from  Washington.  They 
may  be  purchased  at  the  rate  of  10  cents  each,  when  fewer  than  50  copies 
are  purchased,  but  when  they  are  ordered  in  lots  of  50  or  more  copies,  the 
price  is  6  cents  each.  Drafts  or  money  orders  should  be  sent  to  the  Direc¬ 
tor,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey,  Washington,  D.  C.  He  is  not  allowed  to  re¬ 
ceive  postage  stamps  or  personal  checks  in  payment. 


Expenditures 

The  total  expenditures  for  the  period  from  July  1,  1915  to  June  30, 
1916,  were  as  follows : 

Table  2. — Total  expenditures  July  i,  1913  to  June  30,  1916 


General  appropriation — 

Balance  on  hand  July  1,  1915 
Appropriation  July  1,  1915.. 


$ 


402.09 

35,805.00 


Total  available  . 

Expenditures  July  1,  1915  to  June  30,  1916 — 

Salary  and  expenses  of  administration . 

Clerical  help  and  general  office  expenses . 

Equipment  for  new  offices . 

Postage  for  distribution  of  bulletins . 

Oil  investigations  . 

Coal  investigations  . 

Cooperative  geological  surveys  (quadrangles) 

General  stratigraphic  studies  . 

Water  resources  investigations  . 

Clay  resources  investigations . 

Geological  surveys  (quadrangles) . 

Structural  geology  . 

Educational  series  . 

Statistics  . 

Miscellaneous  . 

Topographic  surveys  . 


6,491.03 

4,804.72 

1,153.55 

451.00 

1,247.30 

948.21 

4,093.56 

602.06 

1,127.23 

250.00 

30.00 

369.98 

309.30 

114.90 

247.13 

6,149.60 


$36,207.09 


28,389.57 


Balance  available  July  1,  1916 


$  7,817.52 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 


23 


Special  appropriation  for  survey  and  study  of  overflowed 
lands — 

Balance  on  hand  July  1,  1915 . 

A  lAnrrvnrisitinn  T 1 1 1  v  1  1915 . 

$3,714.61 

$3,714.61 

$3,714.61 

T'ntnl  available  . 

Expenditures  Tulv  1  1915  to  Tune  30,  1916 . 

Ttalanrp  availahlp  Tnlv  1  1916  . 

— 

Appropriations  for  engraving  and  lithographing  maps  and 
illustrations — 

Balance  on  hand  July  1,  1915 . 

Appropriation  July  1,  1915 . 

Total  available  . 

$  120.04 

2,500.00 

$2,620.04 

492.37 

Expended  July  1,  1915  to  June  30,  1916 . 

Balance  available  Tuly  1,  1916 . 

$2,127.67 

$6,500.00 

3,477.20 

$3,022.80 

Appropriation  for  printing  and  binding — 

Balance  on  hand  July  1,  1915 . 

Appropriation  July  1,  1915 . 

Total  available  . 

$6,500.00 

Expended  Tuly  1,  1915  to  June  30,  1916 . 

Balance  available  July  1,  1916 . 

Recommendations 

(NOVEMBER,  1916) 

NEEDS  OF  THE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 

Funds  for  the  Geological  Survey  Commission  have  not  been  increased 
during  the  past  three  bienniums  except  that  $10,000  for  printing  and  binding 
was  transferred  to  the  Commission  by  the  last  General  Assembly  instead 
of  being  provided  indirectly  through  the  State  Board  of  Contracts  as  form¬ 
erly.  A  relative  loss  of  effective  funds  has  been  experienced  because  of 
increased  cost  of  all  kinds  of  work,  including  that  intrusted  to  this  Commis¬ 
sion.  An  increase  of  8  per  cent,  or  about  $3,500  per  year,  in  appropriations 
is  urgent  in  order  to  maintain  the  past  rate  of  various  surveys  related  to 
development  of  coal,  oil,  and  other  State  resources.  Real  additional  increases 
in  funds  are  needed  in  certain  special  lines,  as  follows : 

7  opographic  mapping. — Topographic  mapping  to  date  has  included  52 
quadrangles  lying  in  43  different  counties  and  covering  11,700  square  miles. 
Thus  20  per  cent  of  the  State  has  been  finished.  The  usefulness  of  these 
surveys  in  efforts  to  develop  natural  resources,  drain  farm  lands,  and  to 
build  railroads  and  highways  is  beyond  question.  Other  states  appreciate 


24 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


such  surveys  also,  and  maps  have  been  completed  or  very  nearly  completed 
for  Connecticut,  Kansas,  Maryland,  Massachusetts,  New  Jersey,  New  York, 
Ohio,  Rhode  Island,  Utah,  and  West  Virginia.  Illinois  will  not  be  completely 
mapped  for  40  years  if  the  present  rate  is  continued,  but  larger  appropria¬ 
tions  should  be  made,  especially  now  while  the  policy  of  the  Federal  Govern¬ 
ment  is  to  allot  an  amount  equal  to  that  provided  by  the  cooperating  states. 
Therefore  I  strongly  recommend  that  the  State  appropriate  with  a  view  to 
completing  the  surveys  in  20  years.  This  requires  an  additional  appropria¬ 
tion  of  $9,600  per  year. 

Oil  investigations. — Oil  production  in  Illinois  has  declined  45  per  cent 
since  1908,  and  the  State  is  now  fourth  in  rank  instead  of  second.  However, 
four  new  fields  of  oil  or  gas  have  been  discovered  by  Survey  work,  other¬ 
wise  the  decline  in  production  would  be  much  greater.  If  rising  costs  of 
gasoline  and  oil  are  to  be  checked,  it  must  be  by  the  opening  of  new  fields. 
I  believe  that  additional  fields  can  be  found  in  Illinois  and  request  increased 
funds  in  order  that  the  past  successes  of  the  Survey  can  be  repeated  in  much 
larger  measure.  An  increased  appropriation  of  $5,000  per  year  is  needed. 

Clay  investigations. — Development  of  Illinois  clay  materials  for  high- 
grade  products  is  in  its  infancy,  and  progress  demands  State-wide  investiga¬ 
tions.  Ten  years  ago  an  unusual  deposit  in  Union  County  was  investigated 
and  recommended  for  development  on  a  large  scale.  Today  it  is  considered 
equal  or  superior  to  clay  imported  before  the  war  for  making  crucibles  and 
retort  linings.  Similarly,  a  great  clay  belt  in  15  western  counties  deserves 
investigation  and  development.  Since  clays  which  may  be  discovered  by 
the  Survey  can  now  be  tested  in  the  new  building  of  the  Ceramics  Depart¬ 
ment  at  the  University  of  Illinois,  there  should  be  an  adequate  program  of 
cooperation.  The  Survey  should  have  an  increase  of  at  least  $3,500  per 
annum  for  this  purpose. 

Assembling  these  urgent  items  of  incrase  we  have  a  total  of  $21,600 


per  annum. 

To  meet  increased  costs  . $  3,500 

Topographic  mapping  .  9,600 

Oil  investigations  .  5,000 

Clay  investigations  .  3,500 


$21,600 

The  chief  reason  for  a  substantial  increase  of  the  work  of  the  Geolog¬ 
ical  Survey  is  that  the  expenditure  is  not  for  routine  services,  but  is  for 
scientific  investigation  looking  toward  the  development  of  the  resources  of 
the  State.  The  practical  value  of  such  work  has  sufficient  proof  from  our 
own  experiences  as  well  as  from  other  states  and  from  foreign  countries 
where  industrial  development  is  intense.  Increased  work  will  guarantee 
opportunities  for  profitable  investment  of  capital  and  for  employment  of 


ADMINISTRATIVE  REPORT 


25 


our  population.  It  will  surely  be  more  economical  to  utilize  our  own 
resources  than  to  ship  materials  into  our  markets  from  other  states  and 
countries. 


FORM  OF  APPROPRIATIONS 

Great  difficulty  has  been  experienced  in  conducting  the  work  of  the 
Survey  under  the  limitations  of  the  detailed  appropriation  bill  passed  by 
the  last  General  Assembly.  Twenty-five  distinct  items  were  provided,  and 
thus  elasticity  to  meet  changing  conditions  and  needs  of  a  two-year  period 
was  quite  insufficient. 

Unusual  competition  for  geologists  exists  at  present  because  of  com¬ 
mercial  openings  in  many  lines,  especially  in  oil  investigations.  At  other 
times  men  are  more  available  and  at  lower  salaries.  The  appropriations 
should  be  sufficiently  elastic  to  permit  the  Geological  Commission  and  the 
Civil  Service  Commission  to  meet  changing  conditions  which  are  certain  to 
arise  and  can  not  be  foreseen.  In  general  the  interests  of  the  State  will  be 
best  served  by  making  appropriations  in  suitable  lump  sums  under  a  few 
specified  items,  such  as :  Salaries,  Supplies,  Equipment,  and  Open-order  or 
Contract  Service. 


CONSOLIDATION  OF  STATE  BUREAUS 

The  movement  for  consolidation  of  certain  State  bureaus  doubtless 
deserves  support  in  many  instances.  I  venture  to  suggest,  however,  that 
the  administration  of  the  Illinois  Geological  Survey  at  the  University  under 
a  small  unpaid  Commission  is  most  conducive  to  successful  service,  and  is 
essentially  the  same  as  the  administration  of  the  strongest  and  most  effective 
surveys  of  the  country.  A  change  in  organization  should  be  undertaken 
only  to  effect  better  or  more  economical  service.  The  recommendations 
of  the  Economy  and  Efficiency  Commission  to  combine  the  Geological  Sur¬ 
vey,  the  Water  Survey,  and  the  Natural  History  Survey  would  not  provide 
any  economy,  and  in  my  judgment  could  not  increase  the  efficiency  of  the 
Geological  Survey.  Whereas  this  plan  for  combination  is  perhaps  the  least 
destructive  that  has  been  recently  proposed,  its  constructive  value  may  be 
seriously  questioned. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  ILLINOIS  IN  1915 

By  H.  J.  Skewes 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction  .  28 

Public  interest  in  mineral  resources .  28 

Scope  and  purpose  of  report .  32 

Acknowledgments  .  32 

Review  of  mineral  resources .  32 

Coal  .  35 

Coke  .  41 

Pig  iron  .  42 

Petroleum  .  42 

Natural  gas  . 44 

Gasoline  .  45 

Asphalt  .  46 

Clay-working  industries  .  46 

Clay  .  46 

Clay  products  .  47 

Sandstone  and  limestone .  48 

Lime  .  53 

Cement  .  54 

Sand  and  gravel .  55 

Fluorspar  .  60 

Mineral  water  .  61 

Tripoli  or  silica .  62 

Pyrite  and  sulphuric  acid .  63 

Lead,  zinc,  and  silver .  63 

Mineral  paints  .  66 

Bibliography  .  66 

ILLUSTRATIONS 

FIGURE 

1.  Map  showing  coal  and  oil  fields  of  Illinois .  36 

2.  Diagram  showing  production  of  coal  in  the  leading  counties  of  Illinois, 

1899-1915  .  37 

3.  Diagram  showing  production  of  petroleum  in  the  leading  states,  1860-1915.  43 

4.  Map  showing  distribution  of  limestone  quarries,  1915 .  52 

5.  Map  showing  distribution  of  sand  and  gravel  pits,  1915 .  56 

TABLES 

3.  Comparison  of  values  of  total  mineral  production  in  Illinois  with  those  of 

total  agricultural  products,  1905-1915 .  29 

4.  Output  and  value  of  mineral  products  in  Illinois,  1906-1915 .  30 

5.  Products  and  total  mineral  values  by  counties,  1915 .  33 

6.  Average  price  per  short  ton  of  Illinois  coal  at  mines,  1905-1915 .  35 

(27) 


28 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


PAGE 


7.  Production  of  coal  in  Illinois  by  counties  in  short  tons,  1905-1915 .  38 

8.  Production  of  coal  in  Illinois  by  counties  in  short  tons  in  1915 .  40 

9.  Statistics  of  the  manufacture  of  coke  in  Illinois,  1905-1915 .  41 

10.  Production  in  long  tons  and  value  of  pig  iron  in  Illinois,  1906-1915 .  42 

11.  Marketed  production  of  petroleum  in  Illinois,  1889-1915 .  44 

12.  Record  of  natural  gas  industry  in  Illinois,  1906-1915 .  45 

13.  Production  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  in  Illinois,  1913-1915 .  46 

14.  Production  in  short  tons  and  value  of  clay  mined  and  marketed  in  Illinois, 

1902-1915  .  47 

15.  Clay  products  in  Illinois,  1906-1915 .  48 

16.  Production  and  value  of  brick  and  draintile  in  Illinois  by  counties,  1914 

and  1915  .  49 

17.  Values  of  production  of  sandstone  and  limestone  in  Illinois,  1902-1915....  51 

18.  Lime  burned  in  Illinois,  1904-1915 .  53 

19.  Portland  cement  industry  in  Illinois,  1900-1915 .  54 

20.  Production  in  short  tons  and  values  of  different  kinds  of  sand  and  gravel 

in  Illinois,  1904-1915 .  57 

21.  Production  in  short  tons  and  value  of  sand  and  gravel  in  Illinois  by  coun¬ 

ties,  1914  and  1915 .  58 

22.  Production  in  short  tons  and  value  of  fluorspar  in  Illinois,  1902-1915 .  61 

23.  Production  in  gallons  and  value  of  mineral  water  in  Illinois,  1903-1915...  62 

24.  Production  in  short  tons  and  value  of  tripoli  mined  in  Illinois,  1909-1915..  62 

25.  Production  in  long  tons  and  value  of  pyrite  mined  in  Illinois,  1909-1915..  63 

26.  Tenor  of  lead  and  zinc  ore  and  concentrates  in  Illinois,  1914  and  1915....  65 

27.  Production  and  value  of  lead,  zinc,  and  silver  in  Illinois,  1907-1915 .  65 


INTRODUCTION 

Public  Interest  in  Mineral  Resources 

Continued  investigations  in  the  State  are  rapidly  revealing  new  sources 
of  wealth  until  it  has  reached  the  front  ranks  among  mineral-producing 
states,  having  been  preceded  only  by  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia  in 
1915.  Inasmuch  as  Illinois  has  always  had  so  great  a  reputation  as  an 
agricultural  State,  comparatively  few  realize  the  increasing  wealth  arising 
from  the  growing  mineral  industries.  A  comparison  of  the  figures  for  the 
total  agricultural  products  in  1915  with  the  total  mineral  products  for  the 
same  year  is  hardly  an  average  true  relationship  as  the  agricultural  produce 
for  1915  was  phenomenal,  the  greatest  in  the  history  of  the  State.  The 
increasing  ratio  of  values  of  mineral  production  to  agricultural  produc¬ 
tion  during  the  past  10  years  (Table  3)  will  no  doubt  be  an  interesting 
revelation  to  many.  The  low  ratio  for  1915  is  only  temporary. 

Because  of  the  tremendous  importance  of  the  mineral  products  of  Illi¬ 
nois,  this  source  of  wealth  and  revenue  rightfully  demands  the  attention 
of  its  citizens,  for  the  promotion  of  this  phase  of  activity  afifects  the  social 
and  industrial  interests  of  all,  as  history  shows  the  advancement  of  civili¬ 
zation  depends  almost  wholly  on  the  development  of  mineral  resources.  A 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


29 


Table  3. 


— Comparison  of  values  of  total  mineral  production  in  Illinois  with  those  of 
total  agricultural  products,  1905-1915 


Year 

Mineral 

production 

Agricultural 

production 

Ratio  of  values  of 
mineral  to  agricul¬ 
tural  production 

1905  . 

$  68,025,560 

$272,794,107 

Per  cent 

24.9 

1906  . 

72,723,572 

253,409,404 

28.7 

1907  . 

93,539,464 

280,666,020 

33.3 

1908  . 

92,765,688 

276,614,637 

33.5 

1909  . 

98,840,729 

322,144,944 

30.7 

1910  . 

98,891,759 

297,976,709 

33.2 

1911  . 

106,275,115 

311,525,706 

34.1 

1912  . 

123,068,867 

285,249,557 

43.2 

1913  . 

131,825,221 

288,613,140 

45.9 

1914  . 

117,145,108 

289,781,140 

40.4 

1915  . 1 . 

114,704,587 

486,561,355 

23.5 

1 

state  that  produces  practically  all  the  country's  supply  of  fluorspar  for  the 
great  steel  industries,  stands  high  in  its  output  and  value  of  cement,  clay 
products,  coal,  pig  iron,  petroleum,  sand  and  gravel,  and  tripoli  is  indeed 
worthy  of  special  attention. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  increasing  efficiency  in  the  coal  mining 
industry.  In  the  past  10  years  the  production  has  increased  from  a  yearly 
average  of  670  tons  per  employee  to  854  tons,  due  to  a  better  class  of  mine 
workers,  improved  mining  conditions,  and  modern  mine  equipment — con¬ 
tributions  of  labor,  capital,  and  science.  The  ratio  per  thousand  of  lives 
lost  in  this  work  is  now  only  2.38  as  compared  with  3.4  in  1905.  This 
human  aspect  must  be  encouraging  to  all  interested  in  the  welfare  of  fellow 
citizens. 

Thus  to  derive  the  maximum  value  from  our  mineral  resources  the 
earnest  cooperation  of  the  legislative  and  scientific  departments  of  the  State 
is  necessary.  It  is  a  governmental  duty  to  the  industries  to  improve  con¬ 
ditions  and  promote  efficiency ;  with  the  scientific  department  rests  the 
educational  and  investigative  work  that  points  out  to  the  citizen  the  most 
certain  investments  of  his  money.  Recent  examples  of  this  assistance  of 
science  to  capital  has  been  most  striking  in  the  oil  industry.  In  early  years 
it  was  the  custom  to  put  down  many  test  holes  in  a  wild  and  rambling 
fashion  without  any  knowledge  of  the  underground  conditions.  Now  the 
custom  is  to  make  careful  investigations  as  to  the  structure  and  other  factors, 
based  on  rock  outcrops  and  a  few  test  holes  intelligently  placed.  In  this 
way  the  new  and  profitable  oil  field  of  Schuyler,  Hancock,  and  McDonough 
counties  was  discovered.  In  1915  the  favorable  structures  (Staunton  dome 
and  Spanish  Needle  Creek  dome)  that  had  been  pointed  out  and  described 
by  members  of  the  State  Geological  Survey1  and  by  Wallace  Lee2  of  the 

lBlatchley,  R.  S.,  Oil  and  gas  in  Bond,  Macoupin,  and  Montgomery  counties:  Ill. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  28,  1914.  Also  Kay,  F.  H.,  Coal  resources  of  District  VII :  Ill.  Coal 
Mining  Investigations  Bull.  11,  1915. 

2Lee.  Wallace,  Oil  and  gas  in  the  Gillespie  and  Mt.  Olive  quadrangles:  Ill.  State  Geol. 
Survey  Bull.  31,  p.  71,  1915. 


30 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


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32 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


U.  S.  Geological  Survey  working  in  cooperation  with  the  State,  were  tested 
and  found  to  comply  with  all  expectations.  This  method  of  systematic 
and  intelligent  procedure  increases  financial  efficiency  and  makes  for  the 
advancement  of  society  and  industry. 

Scope  and  Purpose  of  Report 

It  is  the  purpose  of  this  report  to  present  not  only  bare  statistical  figures 
for  each  mineral  product,  but  to  make  new  interpretations,  to  discuss  chang¬ 
ing  conditions  and  their  causes,  to  present  comparisons  of  figures,  and  to 
show  the  rank  of  the  different  counties  of  the  State  and  of  Illinois  amongst 
other  states  in  those  products  in  which  she  has  attained  a  prominent  place. 
A  little  geology  has  also  been  presented  where  it  has  an  interesting  rela¬ 
tionship  to  statistics.  It  is  hoped  that  the  bibliography  at  the  end  of  the 
paper  may  be  of  considerable  assistance  to  many,  as  the  Survey  receives 
many  requests  for  sources  of  information  regarding  the  various  mineral 
industries. 


Acknowledgments 

The  mineral  statistics  for  Illinois  in  1915  were  collected  by  the  U.  S. 
Geological  Survey  and  the  Illinois  State  Geological  Survey  in  cooperation. 
Many  of  the  figures  used  in  this  report  are  the  result  of  compilations  by 
the  Federal  Survey,  as  published  in  the  series  of  Annual  Reports  and  of 
the  Mineral  Resources  of  the  United  States.  Acknowledgments  are  due 
also  to  individual  members  of  the  Survey  who  willingly  rendered  consider¬ 
able  assistance. 

Review  of  Mineral  Resources 

The  value  of  the  total  mineral  production  in  Illinois  for  1915,  ex¬ 
clusive  of  pig  iron  and  coke,  was  $1 14,704,587,  which  ranked  it  third 
among  the  states,  having  been  exceeded  by  Pennsylvania  and  West  A  ir- 
ginia.  A  comparison  of  Illinois  values  in  1914  and  1915  shows  a  de¬ 
crease  of  2.08  per  cent  in  total  value  of  output.  Almost  two-thirds  of  the 
decrease  in  the  petroleum  production  was  made  up  by  the  marked  in¬ 
crease  in  output  of  other  products.  Table  4  shows  the  value  of  Illinois 
products  from  1906  to  1915.  In  order  of  values  for  1914,  the  products 
derived  strictly  from  Illinois  are  coal,  petroleum,  clay  products,  cement, 
stone,  sulphuric  acid,  zinc,  asphalt,  fluorspar,  tripoli,  lime,  natural  gas, 
mineral  paints,  lead,  mineral  waters,  pyrite,  and  silver.  Pig  iron,  coke, 
and  ferro-alloys  were  manufactured  in  Illinois  from  imported  raw  ma¬ 
terials. 

Of  the  102  counties  only  three  made  no  report  of  mineral  production 
in  1915 — Calhoun,  Clay,  and  Piatt.  Exact  figures  can  not  be  given  in 
Table  5  for  total  mineral  output  of  every  county,  as  the  production  of 
petroleum  and  natural  gas  is  not  kept  by  counties  by  the  large  producing 
companies  in  the  main  oil  field,  but  a  fair  approximation  has  been  reached. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


33 


The  county  of  highest  value  of  mineral  output  was  Lawrence,  which  ex¬ 
ceeded  ten  million  dollars  in  petroleum,  natural  gas,  and  clay  products. 
Franklin  County  produced  coal  valued  at  $8,813,376.  Cook  County  was 
valued  at  $7,719,486  in  clay  products,  stone,  sand  and  gravel,  lime,  and 
cement,  named  in  decreasing  order  of  importance;  Williamson,  at  $7,572,- 
132  in  coal  and  clay  products;  and  La  Salle  at  $7,437,624  in  cement,  coal, 
clay  products,  sand  and  gravel,  quartz,  clay,  mineral  water,  and  stone. 
Crawford  County,  with  petroleum,  natural  gas,  and  stone,  and  Sangamon 
County,  with  coal,  clay  products,  and  sand  and  gravel,  each  exceeded  the 
five  million  dollar  mark.  Each  of  26  counties  exceeded  one  million  dollars 
in  total  output ;  besides  the  7  already  mentioned  these  are  Bureau,  Christian, 
Clark,  Clinton,  Crawford,  Fulton,  Jackson,  Jo  Daviess,  Lee,  Macoupin, 
Madison,  Marion,  Montgomery,  Peoria,  Perry,  St.  Clair,  Saline,  Vermil¬ 
ion,  and  Will. 

The  counties  showing  the  greatest  variety  of  mineral  products  were  La 
Salle,  already  discussed,  and  Madison,  which  reported  coal,  clay  products, 
stone,  sand  and  gravel,  lime,  mineral  water,  pyrite,  and  petroleum,  totaling 
$3,794,216. 

Table  5  presents  a  summary  of  statistics  by  counties  for  1915. 


Table  5. — Products  and  total  mineral  values ,  by  counties,  1915 


County 


Products 

(named  in  decreasing  order  of  importance) 


Total  value 


Adams  .... 
Alexander  . 

Bond  . 

Boone  .... 
Brown  .... 
Bureau  .  . . 
Calhoun  .  . 
Carroll  .  . .  . 

Cass . 

Champaign 
Christian  .  . 

Clark  . 

Clay . 

Clinton  .  •  • 

Coles . 

Cook  . 

Crawford  .  . 
Cumberland 
Dekalb  .  . .  . 
Dewitt  .... 
Douglas  .  . 
Dupage  .  . . 

Edgar  . 

Edwards  .  . 
Effingham  . 
Fayette  . . . 

Ford  . 

Franklin  .  . 
Fulton  .  . . . 
Gallatin  .  . . 
Greene  . . . . 


Lime,  stone,  clay  products  . 

Tripoli,  stone,  sand  and  gravel . 

Coal,  sand  and  gravel,  natural  gas . 

Clay  products,  stone,  sand  and  gravel . 

Mineral  water,  clay  products . 

Coal,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel,  natural  gas 


Sand  and  gravel,  stone . 

Clay  products,  sand  and  gravel 
Clay  products,  natural  gas.  .  .  . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Petroleum,  natural  gas,  stone.. 


Coal,  clay  products . 

Petroleum  . 

Clay  products,  stone,  sand  and  gravel,  lime,  cement 

Petroleum,  natural  gas,  stone . 

Petroleum,  natural  gas,  mineral  water . 

Sand  and  gravel,  clay  products . 

Natural  gas,  clay  products . 

Clay  products  . 

Stone,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel . 

Clay  products,  petroleum,  natural  gas . 

Clay  products  . 

Clay  products  . 

Clay  products,  sand  and  gravel . 

Ciay  products  . 

Coal  . 

Coal,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Clay  produ  ;s,  coal,  clay . 


$ 


221,467 

142,913 

59,813 

18,528 

450 

2,164,727 


4,478 

10,022 

42,633 

2,312,234 

“1,428,216 


“1,352,757 

“25,600 

7,719,486 

“5,600,737 

“464,878 

952 

2,026 

(6) 

114,189 

14,087 

144,703 

(t» 

40,475 

1,500 

8,813,376 

2,301,505 

73,700 

303,268 


34 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Table  5. — Products  and  total  mineral  values,  by  counties,  1915 — Continued 


County 


Products 

(named  in  decreasing  order  of  importance) 


clay. 


Grundy  . Coal,  clay  products, 

Hamilton  . Clay  products  . 

Hancock  . jClay  products,  coal,  stone . 

Hardin  . Fluorspar,  lead,  silver,  stone . 

Henderson  . :Sand  and  gravel . 

Henry  . Coal,  clay  products,  mineral  water 

Iroquois  . Clay  products  . 

Jackson  . 

Jasper  . 

Jefferson  . 


Coal,  clay  products. 

Petroleum  . 

Coal  . 


Jersey  . Clay  products,  stone. 

Jo  Daviess . 

Johnson  . 

Kane  . . 

Kankakee  . 

Kendall . 

Knox . 

Lake  . 

La  Salle  . 


Lawrence  .  . 

Lee  . 

Livingston  . 
Logan  .... 
McDonough 
McHenry  .  . 
McLean  .  .  . 
Macon  .  . .  . 
Macoupin  . 
Madison  .  .  . 


Marion  .... 
Marshall  .  .  . 
Mason  .... 
Massac  .... 
Menard 
Mercer  .... 
Monroe  .  . .  . 
Montgomery 
Morgan  .  .  .  . 
Moultrie  .  .  . 

Ogle  . 

Peoria  . 

Perry  . 

Piatt  . 


Zinc,  lead,  stone,  sand  and  gravel . 

Stone  . . 

Sand  and  gravel,  clay  products,  stone,  mineral  water . 

Clay  products,  stone,  lime . . 

Sand  and  gravel . 

Clay  products,  coal . 

Clay  products,  sand  and  gravel,  mineral  water . 

Cement,  coal,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel,  quartz,  clay,  min¬ 
eral  water,  stone . 

Petroleum,  natural  gas,  clay  products . 

Cement,  clay  products,  stone,  sand  and  gravel,  natural  gas . 

Clay  products,  coal . 

Coal,  sand  and  gravel,  clay  products . 

Clay  products,  petroleum,  clay,  coal . 

Clay  products,  sand  and  gravel,  mineral  water . 

Coal,  clay  products,  natural  gas . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Coal  . 

Coal,  clay  products,  stone,  sand  and  gravel,  lime,  mineral  water, 

pyrite,  petroleum  . 

Coal,  petroleum,  clay  products . 

Coal  . 

Clay  products  . 

Clay  products  . 

Coal,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel . 

Coal,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel . 

Stone,  sand  and  gravel,  clay  products . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Mineral  water,  clay  products,  coal,  petroleum,  natural  gas . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Sand  and  gravel,  clay  products,  clay . 

Coal,  sand  and  gravel,  clay  products,  mineral  water . 

Coal  . 


Pike  . Stone,  clay  products,  natural  gas,  lime. 

Pope  . Mineral  water  . 

Pulaski  . Clay  products  . 

Putnam  . Coal  . 


Randolph  .  . . 
Richland  .  .  . 
Rock  Island. 

Saline  . 

Sangamon  .  . 
Schuyler  .  . . 

Scott  . 

Shelby  . 

St.  Clair  .  .  .  . 

Stark  . 

Stephenson  . 
Tazewell 


Coal,  stone,  clay  products . 

Clay  products  . 

Clay  products,  sand  and  gravel,  coal,  stone,  mineral  water. 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Coal,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Clay  products,  clay,  coal . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Coal,  stone,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Stone  . 

Coal,  clay  products,  sand  and  gravel,  mineral  water . 


Total  value 
$  483,581 

( b > 

36,653 

670,745 

9,800 

98,373 

35,014 

1,058,993 

2,265 

(6) 

81,406 

1,422,818 

(6) 

315,903 

715,072 

(6) 

941,690 

483,539 

7,437,624 
"10,5 1 2,983 
1,200,100 
884,775 
482,174 
“862,192 
377,288 
192,770 
405,387 
“4,653,018 

3,794,216 

“1,357,113 

768,009 

(6) 

(6) 

112,080 

751,130 

19,674 

3,011,806 

49,131 

201,576 

76,154 

1,575,548 

2,357,064 

34,885 

(6) 

(6) 

922,191 

933,215 

(6) 

164,199 

4,439,401 

5,479,461 

13,168 

39,211 

134,028 

3,022,740 

25,580 

7,999 

557,810 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


35 


Union  .... 
Vermilion  . 
Wabash  .  . . 
Warren  .  . . 
Washington 
Wayne  .  . . 
White  .... 

Will  . 

Whiteside  . 
Williamson 
Winnebago 
Woodford  . 


Tripoli,  stone,  clay . 

,  Coal,  clay  products,  stone,  pyrite . 

.  Petroleum,  sand  and  gravel.  . . 

,  Clay  products,  coal . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Clay  products  . 

Coal,  clay  products,  lime,  sand  and  gravel . 

Clay  products,  stone,  coal,  sand  and  gravel,  mineral 

Sand  and  gravel . 

Coal,  clay  products . 

Sand  and  gravel,  stone,  lime . 

Coal,  clay  products,  mineral  water . 


.  $  494,125 

.  3,898,562 

.  “61,757 

.  354,839 

.  456,343 

(b) 

.  61,329 

water .  1,022,760 

.  36,977 

.  7,572,132 

.  419,544 

.  317,419 


“The  figures  for  natural  gas  and  petroleum  for  certain  counties  have  been  estimated, 
since  the  Ohio  Oil  Co.  has  no  way  of  dividing  its  total  figures  for  each  of  its  districts  into 
county  units.  A  fair  approximation  of  the  values  for  petroleum  has  been  reached  for  Clark, 
Clinton,  Coles,  Crawford,  Cumberland,  Lawrence,  Marion,  McDonough,  and  Wabash  counties  by  first 
dividing  the  total  for  the  State  into  the  proportion  of  the  daily  output  by  districts ;  the  dis¬ 
tricts  were  then  subdivided  into  counties  according  to  the  proportion  of  the  number  of  wells 
in  each  county.  T'he  approximation  of  the  natural  gas  for  Clark,  Crawford,  Cumberland,  Law¬ 
rence,  and  Macoupin  counties  was  made  by  dividing  the  totals  for  two  different  large  com¬ 
panies  into  the  proportion  of  the  number  of  wells  in  each  county. 

&Concealed,  fewer  than  3  producers. 


COAL 

In  1915  the  value  of  the  output  of  coal  in  Illinois  comprised  12.8  per 
cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  bituminous  coal  production  for  the  country, 
and  56.3  per  cent  of  the  total  value  of  the  mineral  production  of  the  State. 
The  output  of  the  443  mines  for  this  year  was  58,829,576  short  tons  valued 
at  $64,622,471  as  compared  with  519  mines  producing  57,589,197  short  tons 
valued  at  $64,693,529  in  1914.  Because  of  the  boom  in  the  manufacturing 
industries,  the  coal  mining  business  began  to  improve  in  1915. 

In  quantity  of  production  Illinois  ranked  third  in  1915,  a  position  it 
has  held  since  1909,  when  it  yielded  its  second  place  to  West  Virginia.  The 
total  production  of  coal  in  Illinois  from  1833,  when  its  mining  became  a 
commercial  industry,  to  1915  was  1,081,935,096  short  tons,  a  figure  which 
gives  the  State  second  rank.  The  total  for  Pennsylvania  was  3,037,983,490; 
for  West  Virginia,  936,380,719  short  tons. 

The  average  price  for  coal  at  the  mines  from  1905  to  1915  is  given 
in  Table  6. 


Table  6. — Average  price  per  short  ton  of  Illinois  coal  at  mines ,  1905-1915 


1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 


$1.06 

1.08 

1.07 

1.05 

1.05 

1.14 

1.11 


36 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Fig.  1. — Map  showing  coal  and  oil  fields  of  Illinois  in  1915. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


37 


1912  . 

.  1.17 

1913.  . 

.  1.14 

1914  . 

.  1.12 

1915  . 

.  1.09 

Of  the  102  counties  in  the  State,  49  within  the  area  of  the  coal  field 
(Fig.  1)  reported  a  production  of  coal  in  1915.  For  the  last  two  years 
Franklin  County  has  enjoyed  the  distinction  of  first  rank,  the  output  in 


Fig.  2. — Diagram  showing  production  of  coal  in  the  leading  counties  of  Illinois, 
1899-1915. 


1915  having  been  8,02 7,773  short  tons.  The  rapid  rise  of  this  county  since 
the  opening  up  of  its  first  shaft  mine  at  Zeigler  in  the  spring  of  1903  is 
illustrated  graphically  in  figure  2.  Prior  to  1903 — 1890,  1891.  1892  and 


Table  7. — Production  of  coal  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  in  short  tons,  igo 5- 19 15 


38 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


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^Includes  production  of  Johnson  County. 

^Includes  production  of  Moultrie  County. 


40 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Table  8. — Production  of  coal  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  in  short  tons,  in  79/5 


County 

Loaded  at 
mines  for 
shipment 

Sold  to  local 

trade  and 

used  by  em¬ 

ployees 

Used  at  mine 

for  steam  and 

heat 

Total  quantity 

Total  value 

Average  value 

per  ton 

Average  num¬ 

ber  of  days 
active 

Average  num¬ 

ber  of  em¬ 
ployees 

Bureau  — _ 

1,119,424 

34,862 

48,412 

1,202,698 

$  1,961,127 

$  1.63 

186 

3,084 

Christian 

2,010,396 

81,600 

43,056 

2,135,052 

2,297,686 

1.08 

181 

2,699 

Clinton  _ 

1,257,928 

14,986 

42,734 

1,315,648 

1,239,047 

.94 

202 

1,268 

Franklin  _ _  - 

7,767,990 

52,272 

207,511 

8,027,773 

8,813,376 

1.10 

171 

9,054 

Fulton  _  _ _ 

1,749,714 

48,219 

51,973 

1,849,908 

2,267,157 

1.23 

174 

3,143 

Gallatin  - 

62,025 

10,371 

4,984 

77,380 

62,700 

.81 

124 

159 

Greene  __  _  _  _ 

5,748 

16 

5,764 

11,300 

1  96 

181 

20 

Grundy  -  - 

267,581 

9,154 

16,925 

293,660 

428,414 

1.46 

175 

752 

Henry  _ _ 

43,839 

2,380 

46,219 

90,373 

1.96 

221 

100 

Jackson  _ _  _  — 

635,519 

17,070 

29,453 

682,042 

919,382 

1.35 

191 

733 

Knox  _ _  _ 

11,535 

450 

11,985 

22,287 

1.86 

179 

35 

La  Salle  --  - _ 

720,221 

418,306 

54,267 

1,192,794 

2,101,188 

1.76 

197 

2,254 

Livingston  _  — 

8,928 

53,913 

500 

63,341 

110,367 

1.74 

196 

90 

Logan - -  -  — . 

237,458 

53,501 

20,387 

311,348 

407,070 

1.31 

160 

652 

McDonough  __  _ 

500 

4,382 

250 

5,132 

11,223 

2.19 

158 

22 

Macoupin  _ - _ - 

4,663,147 

48,940 

120,453 

4,832,540 

4,638,945 

.96 

168 

5,311 

Madison  ------  __ 

3,251.828 

95,825 

72,302 

3,419,955 

3,355,763 

.98 

165 

3,730 

Marion  _  - 

890,098 

9,385 

25,882 

925,365 

879,840 

.95 

196 

1,139 

Menard  - - 

51,478 

25,753 

1,662 

78,893 

100,455 

1.27 

112 

232 

Mercer  __  _ _ _ _ 

318,481 

8,468 

13,891 

340,840 

495,732 

1.45 

207 

509 

Montgomery  _ 

2,814,907 

19,922 

42,630 

2,877,459 

2,952,009 

1.03 

191 

3,051 

Peoria  - 

1,087,864 

85,340 

20,147 

1,193,351 

1,472,948 

1.23 

196 

1,534 

Perry  _ 

2,302,398 

36,191 

45,069 

2,383,658 

2,357,064 

.99 

205 

2,613 

Randolph _ _  _ 

846,817 

28,277 

17,854 

892,948 

886,844 

.99 

182 

1,122 

Rnrk  Tslqnd 

24,041 

706 

24,747 

43,510 

1.76 

130 

68 

St.  Clair  _____  ___ 

2,635,062 

165,320 

107,747 

2,908,129 

2,597,864 

.89 

136 

3,864 

Saline  _ _ _ 

4,063,483 

31,485 

71,281 

4,166,249 

4,414,601 

1.06 

179 

5,004 

Sangamon  _  _ 

4,676,786 

285,375 

113,662 

5,075,823 

5,290,177 

1.04 

175 

6,563 

Srhiiylpr 

5,864 

5,S64 

7,918 

1.35 

213 

17 

Shelby  - - - 

70,834 

12,693 

5,145 

88,672 

126,458 

1.43 

89 

302 

Stark  _  __  __  _  _ 

40 

11,679 

200 

11,919 

23,772 

1.99 

205 

33 

Tazewell  _  __  _  _  __ 

202,061 

56,734 

4,452 

263,247 

330,363 

1.25 

180 

454 

Vermilion  _  __ 

2,261,238 

152,569 

55,456 

2,469,263 

2,754,147 

1.12 

198 

2,826 

Will  _ 

116,283 

18,233 

6,900 

141,416 

243,757 

1.72 

197 

359 

Williamson  _  _ 

7,030,068 

44,116 

190,211 

7,264,395 

7,550,097 

1.04 

182 

8,664 

Other  counties®  and 

small  mines  - - 

1,705,836 

444,146 

94,081 

2,243,803 

3,356,910 

4,150 

Total  —  - - 

54,826,393 

2,470,114 

1,533,069 

58,829,576 

$64,622,471 

$  1.10 

179 

75,610 

°Bond,  Hancock,  Jefferson,  McLean,  Macon,  Marshall,  Morgan,  Moultrie,  Putnam,  Scott,  War¬ 
ren,  Washington,  White,  and  Woodford  counties. 


1893 — about  1,200  tons  were  mined  probably  at  the  outcrop  of  an  18-inch 
bed  five  miles  east  of  West  Frankfort  on  a  hill  in  sec.  23,  T.  7  S.,  R.  2  E. 
Williamson  County  held  second  rank  with  a  production  of  7,264,395  short 
tons.  This  county  led  the  coal-producing  counties  of  Illinois  in  quantity 
of  output  from  1907  to  1913,  inclusive,  with  the  exception  of  1910  when 
it  was  relegated  to  second  rank  by  St.  Clair  County.  The  rapid  rise  of 
Williamson  County  from  fifteenth  in  1896  to  first  rank  in  1907  is  inter¬ 
esting,  and  its  progress  is  graphically  shown  from  1899  to  the  present  date 
in  figure  2.  The  area  underlain  by  coal  in  these  two  counties  is  about 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


41 


617  square  miles,  and  in  1915  it  produced  26  per  cent  of  the  State 
total.  Sangamon  County,  which  in  1915  ranked  third  with  a  production 
of  5,075,823  short  tons,  has  stood  high  in  the  list  of  coal-producing  coun¬ 
ties  for  a  long  time,  due  probably  to  the  early  railroad  facilities  in  that 
district  and  to  the  nearness  of  the  coal  to  the  surface,  a  condition  that 
encouraged  mining  in  early  days.  Several  interesting  facts  in  the  produc¬ 
tion  in  several  of  the  leading  counties  are  graphically  illustrated  in  figure  2. 

Table  7  presents  production  by  counties  from  1905  to  1915,  and  Table 
8  gives  the  detailed  statistics  by  counties  in  1915. 

COKE 

A  comparison  of  coke  production  with  other  states  shows  that  Illinois 
still  retains  fourth  rank  which  was  reached  in  1914  because  of  the  decline 
in  West  Virginia’s  production.  The  states  of  preceding  rank  were  Penn¬ 
sylvania,  Alabama,  and  Indiana. 

All  the  coke  made  in  this  State  was  from  four  establishments  located 
at  South  Chicago,  Waukegan,  and  Joliet  (2).  The  coal  used  for  its  man¬ 
ufacture  was  from  Pennsylvania  and  West  Virginia.  The  West  Virginia 
coal  is  mixed  with  Illinois  coal  in  the  proportion  of  4  to  1  and  ground 
fine,  a  mixture  which  yields  approximately  75  per  cent  of  very  satisfactory 
coke. 

The  figures  for  the  manufacture  of  coke  in  Illinois  from  1905  to  1915 
are  shown  in  Table  9. 

Table  9. — Statistics  of  the  manufacture  of  coke  in  Illinois,  1905-1915 


Year 

Establish- 

Ovens 

Coal  used 

Yield 
of  coal 
in  coke 

Coke 

Total 
value  of 

Value  of 
coke  at 

ments 

Built 

Building 

produced 

coke  at 
ovens 

ovens  per 
ton 

1905  _ 

5 

275 

Short 

tons 

16,821 

Per  cent 
61.3 

Short 

tons 

10,307 

$  27,681 

$2.69 

1906  _ 

4 

309 

_ 

362,163 

74.2 

268,693 

1,205,462 

4.48 

1907  _ 

5 

309 

280 

514,983 

72.3 

372,697 

1,737,464 

4.66 

1908  _ 

6 

430 

140 

503,359 

72.0 

362,182 

1,538,952 

4.25 

1909  _ 

5 

468 

40 

1,682,122 

75.9 

1,276,956 

5,361,510 

4.20 

1910  _ 

5 

508 

— _ _ 

1,972,955 

76.8 

1,514,504 

6,712,550 

4.43 

1911  _ 

4 

506 

48 

2,087,870 

77.1 

1,610,212 

6,390,251 

3.97 

1912  _ 

6 

594 

40 

2,316,307 

76.2 

1,764,944 

8,069,903 

4.57 

1913  _ 

4 

568 

58 

2,481,198 

74.9 

1,859,553 

8,593,581 

4.62 

1914  _ 

4 

“586 

b40 

1,932,132 

73.8 

1,425,168 

5,858,700 

4.11 

1915  _ 

4 

“626 

— 

2,335,933 

72.2 

1,686,998 

7,016,635 

4.16 

“Includes  253  Semet-Solvay,  315  Koppers,  and  18  Wilputte  ovens. 
bSemet-Solvay  ovens. 

“Includes  293  Semet-Solvay,  315  Koppers,  and  18  Wilputte  ovens. 


42 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


PIG  IRON 

In  accordance  with  the  increasing  demand  for  iron  in  this  country 
during  1915,  Illinois  showed  an  increase  in  the  production  of  pig  iron 
amounting  to  36  per  cent,  and  in  value  40  per  cent,  as  compared  with  the 
preceding  year  when  the  output  was  unusually  low.  Table  10  shows  the 
yearly  production  of  pig  iron  for  the  last  ten  years.  The  rank  of  third 
among  the  states  was  maintained,  Illinois  having  been  preceded  by  Penn¬ 
sylvania  and  Ohio.  The  manufacture  of  this  product  in  Illinois  is  from 
ore  shipped  into  Chicago  and  vicinity  from  Michigan,  Wisconsin,  and  Min¬ 
nesota. 


Table  10. — Production  in  long  tons  and  value  of  pig  iron  in  Illinois,  1906-1915 


Year 

Quantity 

Value 

Average 

price  per 
ton 

Year 

Quantity 

Value 

Average 

price  per 
ton 

1906  . 

2,156,866 

2,457,768 

1911 

2,036,081 

2,806,378 

$31,152,9 27 
42,828,816 

$15.30 

15.26 

1907  . 

$52,229,000 

$21.25 

1912  . 

1908  . 

1,691,944 

30,135,000 

17.81 

1913  . 

2,892,263 

45,796,966 

15.83 

1909  . 

2,467,156 

44,211,000 

17.92 

1914  . 

1,793,714 

24,382,458 

13.59 

1910  . 

2,675,646 

42,917,362 

15.91 

1915  . 

2,455,894 

34,207,901 

13.93 

PETROLEUM 

The  decline  in  production  of  petroleum  in  Illinois  that  began  in  1910 
(see  Table  11)  continued  through  1915  when  the  State  was  relegated  from 
third  to  fourth  rank  by  Texas,  where  new  prolific  fields  were  discovered 
(Fig.  3).  Unless  there  is  an  increased  development  of  new  territory  in 
1916,  Illinois  will  be  forced  to  fifth  rank  by  Louisiana.  In  value  of  total 
output,  however,  Illinois  still  retains  third  position  because  of  the  higher 
quality  of  its  oil.  In  1915  this  State  produced  6.6  per  cent  of  the  total  for 
the  country.  The  distribution  of  the  oil  and  gas  fields  of  Illinois  is  shown 
in  figure  1. 

The  abnormal  decline  of  13  per  cent  in  quantity  from  1914  to  1915 
was  due  largely  to  the  absence  of  any  incentive  in  the  oil  market  for  activ¬ 
ity  in  testing  new  territory  until  the  latter  part  of  the  year  when  prices 
rapidly  rose;  this  was  too  late  to  affect  the  statistics  for  1915.  The  dis¬ 
couraging  market  conditions  were  caused  by  the  overproduction  in  Okla¬ 
homa,  Texas,  and  Louisiana  fields  the  previous  year.  Only  757  wells  were 
completed  in  1915  as  compared  with  1,579  in  1914  and  1,721  in  1913. 

Of  the  13  counties  reporting  a  production  of  petroleum,  Lawrence 
County  led  the  list  as  usual  and  supplied  approximately  half  the  total  for 
the  State;  Crawford  County  stood  second. 

The  most  notable  event  was  the  discovery  of  the  new  oil  and  gas  field 
northwest  of  Staunton  following  descriptions  of  the  favorable  structure 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


43 


Fig.  3. — Diagram  showing  production  of  petroleum  in  the  leading  states,  1860-1915 


44 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


made  by  the  State  Geological  Survey3  and  by  the  State  and  Federal  Sur¬ 
vey4  in  cooperation. 

In  southwestern  Illinois  the  greatest  development  was  in  Lawrence 
County  where  128  new  wells  averaged  49  barrels  each;  in  Crawford  County 
153  wells  averaged  12  barrels  each.  In  the  western  part  of  the  State  a 
small  pool  was  located  in  Lamoine  Township,  McDonough  County.  Activ¬ 
ity  was  slight  in  the  Sandoval  pool,  Marion  County,  and  in  the  Carlyle 
pool,  Clinton  County. 

A  detailed  account  of  the  developments  of  the  different  fields  in  Illinois 
is  given  in  a  report  by  F.  H.  Kay,  Petroleum  in  Illinois  in  1914  and  1915 
in  this  book. 

Table  11. — Marketed  production  in  barrels  and  value  of  petroleum  in  Illinois,  1889-1915 


Year 

Marketed 

production 

Percentage 
of  U.  S. 
production 

Value 

Yearly 

average  price 
per  barrel 

1889-1904  . 

1905  . 

6,576 

181,084 

0.14 

$  116,561 

$  .644 

1906  . 

4,397,050 

3.47 

3,274,818 

.745 

1907  . 

24,281,973 

14.62 

16,432,947 

.677 

1908  . 

33,686,238 

18.76 

22,649,561 

.672 

1909  . 

30,898,339 

16.87 

19,788,864 

.640 

1910  . 

33,143,362 

15.82 

19,669,383 

.593 

1911  . 

31,317,038 

14.21 

19,734,339 

.630 

1912  . 

28,601,308 

12.88 

24,332,605 

.851 

1913  . 

23,893,899 

9.62 

30,971,910 

1.296 

1914  . 

21,919,749 

8.25 

25,426,179 

1.160 

1915  . 

19,041,695 

6.77 

18,655,850 

.979 

NATURAL  GAS 

The  amount  of  natural  gas  produced  for  commercial  utilization  in 
Illinois  continued  to  decrease.  In  1915  there  was  reported  2.690,593,000 
cubic  feet  valued  at  $350,371,  a  drop  of  about  25  per  cent  in  quantity  and 
20  per  cent  in  value.  The  decline  was  due  to  natural  decrease  of  pressure 
and  to  the  lack  of  drilling  occasioned  by  the  depression  in  the  petroleum 
market  throughout  most  of  the  year.  The  gas  produced  was  furnished  by 
206  producers  from  378  wells  at  the  end  of  the  year,  28  having  been  drilled 
and  66  abandoned  since  1914. 

As  usual  the  greater  part  of  the  gas  came  from  Cumberland,  Clark, 
Crawford,  and  Lawrence  counties  from  the  shallow  sands  of  the  Pennsyl¬ 
vanian  and  from  the  deep  sands  of  the  Chester  series  of  Mississippian  age. 
Most  of  the  towns  in  this  area  use  gas  almost  altogether  for  lighting  and 


3Blatchley,  Raymond  S.,  Oil  and  gas  in  Bond,  Macoupin,  and  Montgomery  counties:  Ill. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  28,  1914.  Also,  Kay,  F.  H.,  Coal  resources  of  District  VII:  Ill.  Coal 
Mining  Investigations  Bull.  11,  1915. 

4Lee,  Wallace,  Oil  and  gas  in  Gillespie  and  Mt.  Olive  quadrangles :  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  31,  p.  101,  1915. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


45 


fuel.  At  Greenville,  Bond  County,  is  a  small  gas  field  which  derives  its 
supply  from  the  Chester  sand. 

The  most  important  development  in  the  gas  industry  resulted  from 
drilling  in  the  Staunton  dome  described  and  recommended  by  the  Illinois 
State  Geological  Survey.  Large  volumes  of  gas  issued  from  several  wells 
put  down  by  Miller  Brothers  of  Staunton  and  by  the  Ohio  Oil  Company. 
The  largest  (Daniel  Grove  No.  1)  is  reported  to  have  a  capacity  of  20,- 
000,000  cubic  feet  per  day.  For  a  more  detailed  description  of  this  drill¬ 
ing,  see  Mr.  Kay’s  report  in  this  bulletin,  Petroleum  in  Illinois  in  1914 
and  1915. 

Another  new  but  small  field  resulting  from  recommendation  by  the 
Illinois  State  Geological  Survey3  was  in  the  Spanish  Needle  Creek  dome, 
sec.  21,  T.  9  N.,  R.  7  W.,  Macoupin  County. 

A  large  number  of  shallow  wells  of  small  volume  in  Edgar,  Logan, 
Montgomery,  Morgan,  and  Pike  counties,  and  drift  wells  in  Bureau,  Cham¬ 
paign,  Dewitt,  and  Lee  furnish  gas  for  domestic  consumption  by  one  or 
two  families.  The  village  of  Heyworth,  McLean  County,  is  supplied  with 
gas  from  the  drift. 

Table  12  is  a  record  of  the  natural  gas  industry  in  Illinois  from  1906 
to  1915. 


Table  12. — Record  of  natural  gas  industry  in  Illinois,  1906-1915 


Year 

Gas  produced 

Gas  consumed 

Wells 

Number  of 
producers 

Value 

Number  of  con¬ 
sumers 

Value 

Drilled 

Produc¬ 
tive 
Dec.  31 

Domestic 

Industrial 

Gas 

Dry 

1906  _ 

66 

$87,211 

1,429 

2 

$87,211 

200 

1907  _ 

128 

143,577 

2,126 

61 

143,577 

94 

41 

283 

1908  _ 

185 

446,077 

“7,377 

“204 

“446,077 

121 

42 

400 

1909  _ 

194 

644,401 

“8,458 

“518 

“644,401 

56 

11 

423 

1910  _ 

207 

613,642 

“10,109 

“261 

“613,642 

64 

31 

458 

1911  _ 

225 

687,726 

“10,078 

“293 

“687,726 

69 

78 

458 

1912  _ 

223 

616,467 

“10,691 

“212 

“616,467 

56 

147 

453 

1913  _ 

231 

574,015 

“10,423 

“279 

“574,015 

60 

119 

455 

1914  _ 

235 

437,275 

“8,952 

“153 

“437,275 

38 

114 

417 

1915  _ 

221 

350,371 

8,610 

134 

350,371 

28 

67 

378 

“Includes  number  of  consumers  and  value  of  gas  consumed  in  Vincennes,  Indiana. 


GASOLINE 

The  casing-head  gasoline  industry  in  Illinois  is  of  recent  development, 
and  not  until  1913  was  the  output  especially  important.  This  manufacture 
of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  in  Illinois  is  confined  to  the  deep-sand  low- 
pressure  fields  of  Crawford  and  Lawrence  counties  where  the  gasoline 

5Lee,  Wallace,  Oil  and  gas  in  Gillespie  and  Mt.  Olive  quadrangles:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Sur¬ 
vey  Bull.  31,  1915. 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


46 


content  ranges  from  2  to  5.5  gallons  per  thousand  feet.  Contrary  to  the 
condition  of  the  gasoline  industry  throughout  the  country,  the  State  fell 
short  of  its  production  for  1914. 


Table  13. — Production  of  gasoline  from  natural  gas  in  Illinois,  1913-1915 


1913 

1914 

1915 

Number  of  plants . 

Quantity  . gal. 

Value  . 

12 

581,171 

$67,106 

11.54 

160,304,000 

3.63 

14 

1,164,178 

$100,331 

8.62 

462,321,000 

2.52 

16 

1,035,204 

$80,049 

7.73 

552,054,000 

2.29 

Price  per  gallon . cents 

Gas  used  . cu.  ft. 

Average  yield  in  gas  per  M.  cu.  ft.  .  .  .  . gal. 

ASPHALT 

In  Illinois  asphalt  is  derived  from  crude  petroleum  in  refineries.  In 
1915  the  increase  in  output  of  this  product  from  Illinois  petroleum  was 
very  marked — 188,575  short  tons  valued  at  $1,041,378  as  compared  with 
41,553  short  tons  valued  at  $340,862  in  1914.  This  asphalt  is  marketed 
entirely  for  road  oil  and  for  flux. 

CLAY-WORKING  INDUSTRIES 

Clay 

In  1915  Illinois  dropped  from  fifth  to  sixth  rank  in  quantity  of  pro¬ 
duction  because  of  a  large  increase  in  the  output  in  Georgia,  but  in  the  value 
of  the  clay  mined  and  marketed  it  maintained  its  sixth  rank  of  the  previous 
year.  Table  14  shows  only  a  slight  increase  in  the  total  value  of  output. 

Fire  clay,  as  usual,  was  the  variety  of  greatest  commercial  import¬ 
ance,  the  value  of  which  comprised  almost  71  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
of  clay  produced  in  Illinois,  a  decided  decrease  from  a  proportion  of  80 
per  cent  in  1914.  The  average  price,  however,  increased  from  $1.11  to 
$1.27  per  ton.  The  figures  for  1915  ranked  Illinois  fifth  among  the  states 
producing  fire  clay.  Table  14  shows  the  increasing  importance  of  this 
product  from  1902  to  1914,  and  undoubtedy  the  present  decline  is  only 
temporary,  since  the  European  conditions  have  greatly  increased  the  de¬ 
mand  for  the  American  product.  La  Salle  County,  where  the  clay  below 
coal  No.  2  has  been  found  to  be  very  refractory,  led  in  production  of  fire 
clay  in  1915  with  66,964  tons  valued  at  $86,402,  which  was  72  per  cent 
of  the  total  State  value  for  fire  clay.  Other  producing  counties  named  in 
order  of  decreasing  rank  in  value  were  LTnion,  Scott,  Grundy,  Greene  and 
Livingston.  McDonough,  which  stood  second  in  1914  with  a  large  output 
of  fire  clay,  reported  none  of  this  variety  in  1915. 

Of  the  other  kinds  of  clay,  McDonough  and  Greene  report  stoneware 
clay  valued  at  $26,165,  Greene  reported  a  little  brick  clay,  McDonough  a  little 
modeling  clay,  and  Ogle  a  small  amount  of  clay  for  medicinal  uses. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


47 


Table  14. — Production  in  short  tons  and  value  of  clay  mined  and  marketed  in  Illinois, 

1902-1915 


Year 

Fire 

clay 

Other 

clays 

Total 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

1902  _ 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

52,152 

$38,463 

1903  _ 

36,239 

$38,027 

34,799 

$35,815 

71,038 

73,842 

1904  _ 

55,922 

43,863 

33,043 

27,223 

88,965 

71,086 

1905  _ 

50,922 

53,726 

76,806 

66,684 

127,728 

120,410 

1906  _ 

44,989 

50,793 

94,715 

81,479 

139,704 

131,272 

1907  _ 

66,525 

55,545 

57,250 

50,158 

123,775 

105,703 

1908  _ 

39,075 

47,039 

78,007 

67,443 

117,082 

114,482 

1909  _ 

45,806 

73,884 

98,254 

76,984 

144,060 

150,868 

1910  _ 

82,878 

111,078 

105,925 

79,818 

188,803 

190,896 

1911  _ 

71,479 

91,623 

111,357 

92,203 

182,836 

183,826 

1912  _ 

92,963 

110,204 

83,595 

82,459 

176,558 

192,663 

1913  _ 

106,216 

125,477 

88,721 

78,560 

194,937 

204,037 

1914  _ 

125,071 

138,876 

36,013 

29,478 

161,084 

168,354 

1915  _ 

93,888 

120,008 

70,016 

49,312 

163,904 

169,320 

“Concealed  in  “Total.” 


Clay  Products 

In  the  total  value  of  clay  products  Illinois  ranked  fourth,  as  it  has 
since  1907,  the  preceding  positions  having  been  held  by  Ohio,  Pennsyl¬ 
vania,  and  New  Jersey.  In  1914  this  State  reported  9  per  cent  of  the 
total  value  for  the  country.  In  spite  of  the  steady  decrease  in  the  number 
of  operating  plants  during  the  past  ten  years  (Table  15),  the  amount  and 
value  of  total  production  has  remained  about  the  same.  The  production 
in  1914  was  decidedly  less  than  the  previous  year,  but  the  figures  for  1915 
showed  an  increase  of  11  per  cent  in  total  value  of  output. 

Almost  every  variety  of  clay  products  was  manufactured  in  Illinois 
in  1915.  In  the  value  and  quantity  of  common  brick  this  State  ranked  first 
as  it  has  for  a  number  of  years,  in  the  quantity  and  value  of  vitrified  brick 
and  in  the  value  of  terra  cotta,  second ;  in  the  value  of  enameled  brick, 
third ;  in  the  quantity  and  value  of  front  brick  and  in  the  value  of  draintile, 
fourth  ;  and  in  the  value  of  sewerpipe  and  fireproofing,  fifth. 

Of  the  102  counties  in  Illinois,  77  reported  a  production  of  clay  prod¬ 
ucts.  The  Cook  County  value  of  output  was  39  per  cent  of  the  total  value 
and  lay  in  a  production  of  common  brick,  architectural  terra  cotta,  fire¬ 
proofing,  tile  (not  drain),  red  earthenware,  and  sanitary  ware.  No  other 
county  reached  even  the  half  million  dollar  mark  in  value. 

As  usual  common  brick  comprised  the  largest  portion  of  the  total  out¬ 
put  of  clay  products,  the  value  having  been  46  per  cent  of  the  total.  Owing 
to  the  large  local  market  Cook  County  led  with  69  per  cent  of  the  total 
value  for  common  brick.  Second  in  importance  was  vitrified  paving  brick 
most  of  which  was  from  Knox  County.  Architectural  terra  cotta  ranked 


Table  15. — Clay  products  in  Illinois,  1906-1915 


48 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


ia 

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MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


49 


Table  16. — Production  and  value  of  brick  and  draintile  in  Illinois,  by  counties, 

igi4  and  19/5 


County 

1914 

1915 

Common  brick 

Draintile 

Common  brick 

Draintile 

Thou¬ 

sands 

Value 

Value 

Thou¬ 

sands 

Value 

Value 

Adams  _  _  _ 

4,553 

$32,211 

5,459 

$29,461 

Bureau  -  --  -  —  - 

2,677 

15,863 

$51,314 

2,693 

16,155 

$42,101 

Christian  _ -  --  . 

993 

7,418 

5,791 

722 

5,580 

8,968 

dnnk 

597,694 

2,661,476 

739,173 

4,794,452 

Edgar  --  _  _  _ 

12,700 

(a) 

Edwards  -  -  __  __  - 

2,254 

14,403 

3,322 

485 

3,307 

(d) 

Fulton  -  -  -  _  -  -  . 

8,420 

45,690 

(a) 

5,750 

28,800 

(a) 

Gallatin  - -  -  - 

461 

3,310 

3,450 

413 

3,000 

8,000 

Grundy  _  - - - 

(a) 

(a) 

63,964 

(a) 

(a) 

47,965 

Hancock  _  __  __  .  - - 

1,466 

10,605 

(a) 

1,277 

9,558 

(a) 

Henry  —  _  -  -  --  — 

720 

5,700 

3,176 

385 

2,715 

1,185 

Iroquois  - -  -  -  - 

284 

1,542 

54,038 

(a) 

(a) 

33,564 

Kankakee  _ _ 

45,487 

152,281 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

La  Salle  _ _  --  - - 

2,061 

12,555 

185,758 

3,291 

34,071 

196,266 

Lee  - -  -  -  -- 

( a ) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

27,700 

Livingston  __  -  -  _ 

12,377 

86,569 

36,677 

14,316 

101,281 

25,243 

Logan  -  —  -  — 

858 

5,703 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

McDonough  - -  - 

2,450 

18,000 

27,486 

2,400 

16,600 

52,869 

McLean  -  - -  -  -  - 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

3,123 

19,289 

(a) 

Macon  _  . 

6,100 

38,700 

(a) 

7,933 

50,000 

(a) 

Madison  _  _  _____  - 

10,416 

65,637 

(a) 

12,990 

80,491 

(a) 

Marion  —  __  __  —  __  __  -  __ 

485 

2,813 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

Montgomery  - 

2,552 

16,243 

2,666 

813 

5,800 

3,407 

Morgan  _  .  — - ______ 

1,469 

10,807 

5,508 

1,087 

8,621 

8,245 

Peoria  _  _ 

(a) 

(a) 

_ 

2,635 

16,800 

(a) 

Rock  Island  _____  _  _  _  _ 

4,330 

35,608 

(0) 

2,350 

15,915 

(a) 

St.  Clair  _  _ 

28.064 

180,070 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

Sangamon  __  . 

9,014 

80,124 

36,603 

4,570 

33,729 

(0) 

Shelby  - - 

(a) 

(0) 

(a) 

262 

2,141 

6,429 

Tazewell  _  _  __  _ 

17,607 

88,089 

(a) 

14,190 

72,385 

(a) 

Vermilion  _ 

00 

(a) 

5,250 

(0) 

(a) 

6,000 

White  _ _ _  _ _ 

1,180 

7,995 

18,791 

680 

4,830 

1 5,00C 

Other  counties6  .  - -  - 

177,371 

1,299,286 

525,433 

240,049 

1,516,009 

510,767 

Total  - -  __  _ 

941,343 

4,898,698 

1,041,927 

1,066,057 

6,870,990 

991,709 

"Concealed  in  “Total.” 

6In  1914  including:  Boone,  Cass,  Champaign,  Clark,  Clinton,  Coles,  Dekalb,  DeWitt,  Douglas, 
Dupage,  Effingham,  Fayette,  Ford,  Fulton,  Greene,  Grundy,  Hamilton,  Hancock,  Jackson,  Jefferson, 
Jersey,  Kane,  Kankakee,  Knox,  Lake,  Lawrence,  Lee,  Logan,  McLean,  Macon,  Macoupin,  Madison, 
Marion,  Mason,  Massac,  Menard,  Mercer,  Monroe,  Moultrie,  Ogle,  Peoria,  Pike,  Randolph,  Rich¬ 
land,  Rock  Island,  St.  Clair,  Saline,  Schuyler,  Shelby,  Stark,  Stephenson,  Tazewell,  Vermilion, 
Warren,  Washington,  Wayne,  Will,  Williamson,  and  Woodford  counties. 

In  1915  including:  Boone,  Cass,  Champaign,  Clinton,  Dekalb,  Dewitt,  Douglas,  Dupage, 
Edgar,  Effingham,  Fayette,  Ford,  Greene,  Hamilton,  Iroquois,  Jackson,  Jersey,  Kane,  Kankakee, 
Knox,  Lake,  Lawrence,  Lee,  Logan,  McLean,  Macon,  Macoupin,  Madison,  Marion,  Mason,  Massac, 
Menard,  Mercer,  Monroe,  Moultrie,  Ogle,  Peoria,  Pike,  Pulaski,  Randolph,  Richland,  Rock  Island, 
St.  Clair,  Saline,  Sangamon,  Schuyler,  Stark,  Tazewell,  Vermilion,  Warren,  Washington,  Wayne, 
Will,  Williamson,  and  Woodford  counties. 


50 


YEAR  ROOK  FOR  1915 


third  in  value  of  the  different  clay  products,  and  73  per  cent  of  this  out¬ 
put  came  from  Cook  County.  Fourth  in  total  value  is  draintile,  in  pro¬ 
duction  of  which  La  Salle  County  stood  first.  Table  16  gives  by  counties 
the  production  and  value  of  common  brick  and  draintile  for  Illinois  in  1914 
and  1915.  In  the  manufacture  of  pottery  Illinois  has  seventh  place.  In 
1915  the  production  was  valued  at  $948,892  as  compared  with  $780,579 
the  previous  year,  an  increase  of  22  per  cent.  An  increase  in  the  produc¬ 
tion  of  each  kind  of  ware  was  reported.  Stoneware  constituted  60  per 
cent  of  the  total  for  pottery  and  was  made  in  Brown,  Greene,  La  Salle, 
McDonough,  Tazewell,  and  Warren,  the  last  named  having  led  with  by 
far  the  largest  amount.  Of  the  other  kinds  of  pottery  products,  sanitary 
ware,  porcelain,  electrical  supplies,  red  earthenware  and  white  ware  fol¬ 
lowed  in  decreasing  order.  In  1915  twenty-two  operators  reported  sales. 

SANDSTONE  AND  LIMESTONE 

The  total  value  of  the  material  reported  as  sandstone  in  1915  was 
$43,307,  a  decrease  of  about  40  per  cent  as  compared  with  1914.  The 
value  for  1914,  however,  (see  Table  17)  was  far  in  excess  of  any  previous 
output,  and  the  figure  for  1915  is  in  reality  high.  Practically  all  the 
output  was  from  Alexander  County,  Lee,  Randolph,  Union,  and  St.  Clair 
having  quarried  small  amounts. 

The  classification  as  sandstone  of  the  production  of  these  counties  is 
very  misleading;  the  output  from  Alexander  and  Union  counties  is  a  flint 
or  chert  from  a  115-foot  bed  of  Devonian  age.  In  Lee  County  the  quarry 
is  operating  in  a  portion  of  the  Platteville-Galena  limestone  which  is  soft 
and  granular  and  might  easily  be  taken  for  sandstone.  In  Randolph 
County  the  output  may  be  from  a  sandstone  of  the  Mississippian  series ; 
no  definite  data  could  be  found  regarding  this  quarry.  At  Chester  the 
Palestine  sandstone  of  the  Chester  series  has  been  used  for  building  pur¬ 
poses,  but  no  report  of  production  was  made  in  1914  or  1915. 

The  value  of  limestone  production  in  Illinois  for  1915  showed  an 
increase  of  less  than  one-tenth  of  one  per  cent  as  compared  with  the  pre¬ 
ceding  year.  A  study  of  Table  17  shows  that  for  the  last  two  years  this 
industry  has  been  suffering  a  decided  decline. 

Of  the  27  counties  reporting  an  output  of  this  product.  Cook  County 
as  usual  led  the  list  with  a  value  $1,429,117,  an  increase  of  8  per  cent  over 
the  value  for  1914,  and  49  per  cent  of  the  State  total.  The  four  counties 
of  following  rank  were  Will,  Vermilion,  St.  Clair,  and  Kankakee,  each 
having  values  exceeding  one  hundred  thousand  dollars. 

Central  Illinois  is  so  heavily  drift  covered  that  at  only  a  very  few 
locations  in  this  portion  of  the  State  have  quarries  ever  been  opened.  The 
outcrops  are  confined  almost  entirely  to  the  river  portions  in  the  northern 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


51 


part  of  the  State  and  along  the  Mississippi  (fig.  4).  Almost  70  per  cent 
of  the  value  of  limestone  production  in  1915  belonged  to  the  Niagaran 
which  was  quarried  mostly  in  Cook,  Will,  Dupage,  and  Kane  counties  ;  a 
little  came  from  Savanna  and  Port  Byron  on  the  Mississippi.  In  the  cen¬ 
tral-northern  counties  the  Platteville-Galena  limestone  was  worked  at 
Rockford,  Dixon,  Pecatonica,  Durand,  Mt.  Carroll,  and  other  locations. 
At  Moline  the  Hamilton  limestone  of  Devonian  age  supplied  a  small 
amount,  the  only  place  in  Illinois  where  the  Devonian  was  quarried  for 
limestone.  Along  the  Mississippi  from  Henderson  County  to  Randolph 
County,  and  along  the  Ohio  in  Pope  and  Hardin  counties  outcrops  along 
the  bluffs  afford  economic  sites  for  many  quarries.  Several  of  the  lime¬ 
stones  of  Mississippian  age  in  the  western  and  southern  portion  of  the 
State  were  worked.  The  Burlington  and  Keokuk  limestones  were  quar¬ 
ried  at  Quincy  and  Marblehead  in  Adams  County ;  the  Salem  limestone  at 
Jonesboro  in  Union  County;  the  St.  Louis  limestone  at  Niota  in  Han¬ 
cock  County,  at  Alton  in  Madison  County,  south  of  St.  Louis  in  St.  Clair 
County,  and  at  Elizabethtown  in  Hardin  County ;  the  Ste.  Genevieve  at 
Alton  in  Madison  County,  south  of  East  St.  Louis  in  St.  Clair  County, 
and  in  the  southwest  corner  of  Johnson  County;  the  Yankeetown  chert 
at  Millstadt ;  and  a  limestone  ledge  of  the  Okaw  formation  at  Menard. 


Table  17. — Values  of  production  of  sandstone  and  limestone  in  Illinois,  1902-1915 


Year 

Sandstone 

Limestone 

Year 

Sandstone 

Limestone 

1902  . 

$  32,200 

$3,222,608 

1909  . 

$  26,891 

$4,234,927 

1903  . 

26,293 

3,206,271 

1910  . 

5,710 

3,847,715 

1904  . 

47,377 

3,151,890 

1911  . 

30,953 

3,436,977 

1905  . 

29,115 

3,511,890 

1912  . 

32,720 

3,808,784 

1906  . 

19,125 

2,942,331 

1913  . 

28,781 

4,112,172 

1907  . 

14,996 

3,774,346 

1914  . 

72,738 

2,861,340 

1908  . 

12,218 

3,122,552 

1915  . 

43,307 

2,864,103 

Definite  geologic  data  at  several  other  quarry  locations  along  the  Mississ¬ 
ippi  are  unavailable.  The  limestone  above  coal  No.  6  at  Belleville  was 
used  commercially.  In  Vermilion  County  at  Fairmount  is  a  lens  of  lime¬ 
stone  in  the  McLeansboro  formation  above  coal  No.  7 ;  this  furnishes 
large  amounts  of  stone  for  the  Chicago  steel  mills  for  blast  furnace  flux 
and  considerable  for  Portland  cement.  A  limestone  of  the  McLeansboro 
formation  near  Casey  and  Marshall  in  Clark  County  was  of  economic  im¬ 
portance  in  1915. 

Most  of  the  limestone  quarried  in  Illinois  is  high  in  magnesium.  The 
Ordovician  beds  are  mainly  of  this  character  though  a  little  high-calcium 
limestone  of  this  age  is  found.  The  Silurian  (Niagaran)  limestones  are 
also  magnesian,  but  the  Devonian  limestones  are  very  high  in  percentage 
of  calcium  carbonate.  Most  of  the  Carboniferous  limestones  are  hi  eh  in 

o 


52 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Fig.  4. — Map  showing  distribution  of  limestone  quarries,  1915.  The  figures  state 
the  number  of  quarries  at  towns  having  more  than  one. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


53 


calcium  and  low  in  magnesium,  but  the  Mississippian  limestones  are  likely 
to  contain  a  considerable  amount  of  silica  in  the  form  of  chert. 

The  value  of  the  stone  used  for  concrete  comprised  about  36  per  cent 
of  the  total  State  value;  the  value  of  the  stone  used  for  road  making,  24 
per  cent;  and  the  values  for  flux  and  railroad  ballast  each  about  12  per 
cent.  Other  uses  for  this  product  were  building,  paving,  curbing,  flagging, 
rubble,  and  riprap. 


LIME 

The  lime  industry  in  Illinois  has  changed  very  little  for  several  years. 
In  1915  this  State  ranked  tweflth  in  quantity  and  fourteenth  in  value  of 
production.  Though  the  amount  of  lime  manufactured  showed  a  slight 
increase,  a  drop  from  the  average  price  from  $4.38  to  $3.98  per  ton  caused 
a  decrease  of  about  8  per  cent  in  the  total  value.  As  about  50  per  cent  of 
the  Illinois  lime  is  used  for  building  purposes,  this  decrease  in  prices  is 
clearly  due  to  the  unfavorable  building  conditions  in  Chicago  and  the  three 
months’  strike  in  the  brick  trade,  thus  arousing  keen  competition  for  what 
trade  existed.  Other  uses  for  the  Illinois  lime  are  in  chemical  works, 
paper  mills,  sugar  factories,  tanneries,  and  as  a  fertilizer. 

In  1915  lime  was  burned  at  14  plants  located  in  the  following  counties 
named  in  order  of  rank:  Cook,  Adams,  Madison,  Winnebago,  Will,  and 
Kankakee.  The  output  of  Cook  County  valued  at  $183,812  and  that  of 
Adams  valued  at  $124,926  comprised  almost  88  per  cent  of  the  State  total. 

Both  high-calcium  and  high-magnesium  lime  was  manufactured  in 
Illinois,  since  both  kinds  of  limestone  were  quarried.  By  far  the  larger 
percentage  was  high-magnesium  lime  which  was  made  in  Cook,  Will,  and 
Kankakee  counties  where  the  Niagaran  limestone  is  used. 


Table  18. — Lime  burned  in  Illinois ,  1904-1915 


Year 

Number  of 
plants 

Quantity 

Value 

Average  price 
per  ton 

1904  . 

Short  tons 
108,881 

$  461,068 

$  4.23 

1905  . 

•  •  •  • 

98,907 

421,589 

4.26 

1906  . 

•  •  •  • 

121,546 

534,118 

4.39 

1907  . 

22 

124,784 

559,305 

4.48 

1908  . 

18 

92,549 

393,951 

4.26 

1909  . 

17 

104,260 

454,682 

4.36 

1910  . 

14 

113,239 

503,581 

4.45 

1911  . 

16 

92,169 

423,762 

4.60 

1912  . 

15 

98,450 

394,892 

4.01 

1913  . 

16 

95,977 

433,331 

4.51 

1914  . 

16 

87,603 

362,727 

4.14 

1915  . 

14 

88,604 

352,954 

3.98 

54 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


CEMENT 

In  1915  there  were  four  producing  and  five  shipping  Portland  cement 
plants  in  Illinois  at  Oglesby  (2),  Dixon,  and  South  Chicago.  Because  of 
the  overproduction  in  1914,  one  of  the  plants  temporarily  ceased  manu¬ 
facture,  and  the  total  for  Illinois  was  4.5  per  cent  less  than  for  the  prev¬ 
ious  year ;  the  shipments,  however,  increased  2.9  per  cent.  This  condition 
of  excessive  production  of  cement  was  representative  of  the  entire  coun¬ 
try  and  considerable  caution  was  exercised  in  the  amount  of  manufacture 
of  new  stock  during  1915. 

In  rank  of  Portland  cement-producing  states,  Illinois  stood  third,  a 
position  it  attained  in  1914.  During  1915  Pennsylvania  manufactured  31 
per  cent  of  the  total  for  the  United  States,  Indiana  9  per  cent,  and  Illinois 
6  per  cent.  Table  19  shows  the  figures  for  this  State  from  1900  to  1915. 

Analyses0  of  many  limestones  in  Illinois  show  low  magnesia  limestones 
suitable  for  use  in  Portland  cement  manufacture  occur  in  the  Ordovician, 
Mississippian,  and  Pennsylvanian  rocks  of  this  State.  As  yet  only  the 
Ordovician  and  Pennsylvanian  rocks  are  being  used,  though  the  Mississ¬ 
ippian  limestones  would  seem  to  be  commercially  the  most  valuable  because 
of  their  thickness  in  outcrop,  accessibility  and  proximity  to  transportation 
along  Mississippi  River  and  railroads,  and  easly  available  coal. 

A  limestone  of  the  Pennsylvanian  series  (La  Salle  limestone  of  the 
McLeansboro  formation)  is  utilized  by  the  Chicago  Portland  Cement 
Company  at  Oglesby,  by  the  Marquette  Cement  Manufacturing  Company 

Table  19. — Portland  cement  industry  in  Illinois,  1900-1915 


(Figures  opposite  P  relate  to  production;  tlose  opposite  S  to  shipments.) 


Year 

Number  of 
plants 

Quantity 

Value 

Average  price 
per  barrel 

Barrels 

1900  .. 

. P 

3 

240,442 

$  300,552 

$1.25 

1901  .. 

. P 

4 

528,925 

581.818 

1.10 

1902  .. 

. P 

4 

767,781 

977,541 

1.27 

1903  .. 

. P 

5 

1,257,500 

1,914,500 

1.52 

1904  .. 

. P 

5 

1,326,794 

1,449,114 

1.09 

1905  . . 

. P 

5 

1,545,500 

1,741,150 

1.13 

1906  .. 

. P 

4 

1,858,403 

2,461,494 

1.33 

1907  .. 

. P 

5 

2,036,093 

2,632,5  76 

1.29 

1908  .. 

. P 

5 

3,211,168 

2,707,044 

.84 

1909  .. 

. P 

5 

4,241,392 

3,388,66 7 

.80 

1910  .. 

. P 

5 

4,459,450 

4,119,012 

.90 

1911  .. 

. P 

5 

4,582,341 

3,583,301 

.79 

1912  .. 

...J  P 

5 

4,299,357 

3,212,819 

.... 

l  s 

5 

4,602,617 

3,444,085 

.75 

1913  .. 

l  P 

5 

5,083,799 

5,109,218 

.... 

•  /  s 

5 

4,734,540 

4,784,696 

1.01 

1914  .. 

\  p 

5 

5,401,605 

5,007,288 

•  •  •  • 

I  s 

5 

5,284,022 

4,848,522 

.92 

1915  .. 

....  J  l 

4 

5,156,869 

4,884,026 

•  •  •  • 

l  s 

5 

5,435,655 

.90 

oBleininger,  A.  V.,  Lines,  E.  F.,  and  Layman,  F.  E.,  Portland  cement  resources  of  Illinois: 
Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  17,  pp.  97-100,  1912. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


55 


at  Dickinson,  and  by  the  German-American  Portland  Cement  Company 
just  east  of  La  Salle.  The  Universal  Portland  Cement  Company  uses  a 
mixture  of  slag  and  crushed  limestone  from  Fairmount,  Vermilion  County, 
where  a  lens  of  the  McLeansboro  limestone  outcrops.  The  Ordovician 
limestone  at  Dixon,  Lee  County,  is  used  by  the  Sandusky  Portland  Cement 
Company. 

The  LTica  Hydraulic  Cement  Company  whose  plant  began  operation 
under  Messrs.  Norton  and  Steele  in  1838,  is  producing  a  natural  cement 
from  the  Prairie  clu  Chien  (“Lower  Magnesian")  limestone  at  Utica  and 
operates  one  of  the  twelve  natural  cement  plants  of  the  country.  The  lime¬ 
stone  used  comes  from  two  beds,  the  upper  one  6  to  8  feet  thick,  the  lower 
one  12  to  14  feet  thick.  The  material  that  is  used  in  the  mixture  for 
Portland  cement  occurs  in  the  proper  proportions  in  this  rock.  Analyses 
of  these  two  beds  are  given  below. 


Analyses  of  natural  cement  rock  (“Lower  Magnesian” )  at  Utica 


Bed 

Loss  on 
ignition 

Silica 

(Si02) 

Iron  oxide 
and  alumina 
(Fe„03, 

ai2o3) 

Lime 

(CaO) 

Magnesia 

(MgO) 

Water  at 
105° 

Upper. . . 

38.54 

15.02 

8.20 

25.40 

12.50 

.33 

Lower  .  . 

38.80 

14.42 

11.34 

26.12 

9.82 

.12 

SAND  AND  GRAVEL 

For  two  years  Illinois  has  taken  the  lead  in  total  quantity  of  produc¬ 
tion  of  sand  and  gravel,  having  displaced  New  York  from  first  position  in 
1914.  The  states  following  Illinois  in  order  of  rank  in  1915  were  New 
York,  Ohio,  Pennsylvania,  and  Indiana.  In  value  of  total  output,  how¬ 
ever,  this  State  continued  to  hold  fourth  rank,  having  been  preceded  by 
Pennsylvania,  Ohio,  and  New  York. 

A  comparison  of  figures  for  the  last  two  years  shows  in  1915  an 
increase  of  0.1  per  cent  in  quantity,  and  6.7  per  cent  in  value  of  output  of 
sand  and  gravel  in  Illinois.  Table  20  shows  in  general  a  steady  increase 
in  value  of  sand  and  gravel  production  since  1904  when  the  collection  of 
the  statistics  for  this  product  was  begun. 

The  sand  and  gravel  in  this  State  is  from  alluvial  deposits,  valley  trains, 
pockets  in  the  drift,  and  outcrops  of  the  St.  Peter  sandstone.  Figure  5 
shows  the  distribution  of  the  pits  in  1915.  By  far  the  larger  production  of 
the  output  comes  from  the  northern  part  of  the  State  along  Rock  River 
valley  and  the  Fox-Illinois  Valley.  In  this  area  the  valley  deposits  from 
the  receding  glaciers  are  heaviest. 

Of  the  37  counties  reporting  a  production  of  sand  and  gravel.  La  Salle 
County  led  with  an  output  valued  at  $429,054,  which  was  21.6  per  cent  of 
the  State  total ;  Winnebago  County  was  a  close  second,  its  value  having 


56 


YEAR  ROOK  FOR  1915 


Fig.  5. — Map  showing  distribution  of  sand  and  gravel  pits  in  Illinois,  1915.  The 
figures  state  the  number  of  pits  at  towns  having  more  than  one. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


57 


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“Concealed  in  “Total 


58 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Table  21. — Production  in  short  tons,  and  value  of  sand 


1914 


cn 

u 

4> 

U 

3 

Glass  sand 

Molding  sand 

Building  sand 

Grinding  and  pol-  Fire  or  turn 
ishing  sand  |  ace  sand 

T3 

o 

u 

Ph 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value  Quantity 

Bond 

5 

13,510 

$13,018 

Ul) 

(a) 

Bureau 

8 

(a) 

(a) 

13,649 

$3  496 

Carroll  . 

3 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

Cook  - 

4 

(a) 

(a) 

Kane _ _  _ 

12 

120,293 

24,605 

148,483 

39  064 

La  Salle  _ 

18 

273,334 

$207,195 

168,978 

129,764 

(a) 

(a) 

58,351 

$38,780  60,67 

Lee  ...  .  .. 

6 

3,300 

1  500 

McHenry  _ 

6 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

198,240 

61,124 

Madison  _ 

3 

- - 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

Ogle  - 

4 

(a) 

(a) 

Peoria  - 

12 

(a) 

(a) 

38,892 

16  519 

Rock  Island _ 

7 

_  _ 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

Tazewell  _  . 

4 

18,310 

10  117 

Whiteside  __ 

5 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

Will  _ 

7 

(a) 

(a) 

8,404 

3  367 

Winnebago  _ 

7 

12,739 

8,010 

241,970 

86,413 

Other  counties'' 

21 

3,000 

2,550 

5,499 

5,287 

331,328 

87,400 

State  total _ 

133 

339,551 

$246,803 

347,543 

$200,011 

1,196,873 

$383,209 

58,351 

$38,780  60,674 

'  Concealed  in  totals. 


''Including:  Alexander,  Boone,  Cass,  Clinton,  Dekalb,  Dupage,  Henderson,  Kendall,  Lake,  Logan,  Menard 


1915 


County 

c n 

u 

D 

O 

3 

Glass  sand 

Molding  sand 

Building  sand 

Grinding  and  pol-  Fire  or  Fun 
inshing  sand  aee  sand 

u 

Ph 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity  Value  Quantity 

1  1 

Bond 

6 

18,387 

(a) 

$14,902 

(a) 

3,700 

(a) 

$1,395 

(a) 

Bureau 

8 

Carroll  __  .. 

3 

(a) 

(a) 

Cook  _  . 

4 

194,336 

393,402 

(a) 

107,475 

75,209 

(n) 

Kane 

10 

23,169 

11,584 

Lake  _ _ _ _ 

3 

La  Salle 

18 

495,884 

$251,552 

260,207 

115,168 

(a) 

(a) 

62,366  $26,370  <■> 

Lee 

6 

6,900 

41,745 

(a) 

1,800 

15,482 

(a) 

McHenry 

5 

(a) 

(a) 

Madison  _  _  _ 

3 

(a) 

(a) 

Ogle  .  -  _ 

5 

(a) 

(a) 

(8) 

(«) 

Peoria  _ - 

10 

41,710 

23,700 

28,508 

11,780 

(a) 

Rock  Island 

7 

(a) 

(a) 

110,390 

43,338 

(a) 

Tazewell 

4 

Whiteside _ 

7 

(a) 

(a) 

Will  _ 

5 

(a) 

(a) 

10,305 

(a) 

3,950 

(n) 

Winnebago  _ 

Other  counties6 

6 

(a) 

(a) 

20 

2,500 

2,125 

28,999 

13,975 

385,100 

105,899 

State  total - 

127 

566,128 

$299,286 

383,185 

$195,992 

1,600,521 

$472,654 

62,366  $26,370  <"> 

"Concealed  in  totals. 


6Including:  Alexander,  Boone,  Cass,  Dekalb,  Dupage,  Fayette,  Fulton,  Henderson,  Jo  Daviess,  Kendal  . 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


59 


gravel  in  Illinois,  by  counties,  1914  and  1915 


:  furn- 
sand 

Engine  sand 

Paving  sand 

Other 

sands 

Gravel 

Total 

ilue 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

(a) 

(a) 

700 

$100 

(a) 

(a) 

17,445 

$14,223 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

49,272 

$18,536 

66,788 

24,352 

(a> 

(a) 

6,640 

2,875 

(a) 

(a) 

156,638 

26,106 

227,445 

32,201 

541,858 

121,377 

• 

48,807 

16,270 

294,986 

69,696 

621,569 

139,635 

1,569 

(a) 

(a) 

17,374 

11,743 

705,860 

80,877 

1,294,821 

499,028 

(a) 

(a) 

13,040 

2,140 

22,190 

4,840 

109,897 

9,825 

118,897 

32,289 

433,970 

107,953 

965 

750 

91,127 

25,345 

190,000 

21,165 

252,281 

57,708 

(a) 

(a) 

16,290 

5,702 

144,444 

54,341 

204,699 

78,579 

37,800 

14,000 

80,983 

24,475 

174,624 

55,019 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

582,237 

74,983 

630,766 

95  932 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

1,804 

810 

17,175 

12,025 

64,634 

16,539 

65,810 

19,669 

807,364 

195,386 

889,578 

222,422 

(a) 

(a) 

887 

20 

791,049 

32,089 

1,048,071 

126,564 

— 

41,293 

4,655 

51,306 

15,622 

65,836 

15,640 

938,497 

343,271 

1,436,759 

474,425 

1,569 

93,299 

$12,239 

121,812 

$39,851 

522,808 

$120,635 

4,955,219 

$793,422 

7,696,130 

$1,859,519 

:er,  Monroe,  Piatt,  Pike,  St.  Clair,  Sangamon,  Wabash,  and  White  counties. 


>r  furn- 
sand 

Engine  sand 

Paving  sand 

Other 

sands 

Gravel 

lue 

Quantity 

V  alue 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

Quantity 

Value 

1 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

65,771 

4,153 

547,991 

349,273 

208,640 

20,513 

7,221 

(a) 

$21,111 

1,328 

96,325 

147,296 

37,208 

9,519 

1,925 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

1,500 

$200 

) 

(a) 

(a) 

5,000 

3,000 

(a) 

(a) 

1,500 

1,125 

(a) 

(a) 

321,415 

154,966 

72,253 

(a) 

23,325 

55,200 

20,711 

(a) 

(a) 

la) 

72,255 

(a) 

$21,834 

(a) 

(a) 

(a) 

69,615 

28,590 

(a) 

(a) 

2,091,145 

386,763 

297,510 

99,640 

49,002 

6,471 

43,755 

12,495 

376 

77 

' 

73,427 

$14,677 

291,436 

$73,645 

8,376 

$4,402 

4,424,527 

$885,548 

Total 


Quantity 

Value 

23,594 

$17,399 

84,221 

26,504 

5,548 

2,453 

742,327 

203,800 

767,344 

234,289 

343,640 

71,208 

1,160,266 

429,054 

14,621 

3,825 

58,194 

23,605 

95,046 

26,194 

398,909 

72,534 

196,946 

78,980 

185,867 

51,882 

234,599 

77,931 

98,646 

36,977 

33,234 

15,926 

2,368,515 

371,313 

886,495 

240,682 

7,708,012 

$1,984,569 

m,  Menard,  Mercer,  Monroe,  Pike,  St.  Clair,  Sangamon,  Wabash,  and  White  counties. 


60 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


been  $371,313,  which  was  18.7  per  cent  of  the  total.  Kane  and  Cook 
counties  held  the  third  and  fourth  ranks  with  values  exceeding  a  hun- 
dred  thousand  dollars.  In  1914  six  counties  exceeded  this  value — La  Salle, 
Will,  Kane,  Winnebago,  and  McHenry — but  the  value  of  output  for  Will 
County  fell  to  only  7.1  per  cent  that  of  the  previous  year,  but  that  for 
McHenry  County  to  21.8  per  cent.  Table  21  gives  the  detailed  production 
of  the  different  kinds  of  sand  and  gravel  by  counties,  where  three  or  more 
producers  are  represented. 

The  production  and  value  of  glass  sand  in  Illinois,  as  for  the  entire 
country,  was  the  largest  ever  reported,  and  for  the  first  time  this  State  led 
in  its  quantity  of  output  and  relegated  Pennsylvania  to  second  place.  In 
value,  however,  the  ranks  of  these  two  states  were  reversed.  The  66  per 
cent  increase  in  tonnage  of  glass  sand  arose  from  the  decided  increase  in 
demand  by  the  glass  manufacturers  in  this  country,  since  imports  of  glass 
have  decreased  and  exports  increased.  This  activity  still  continues.  The 
average  price  per  ton  fell  from  73  cents  in  1914  to  53  cents  in  1915. 

In  Illinois  excellent  glass  sand  comes  from  the  pure  and  friable  St. 
Peter  sandstone  which  outcrops  in  Upper  Illinois  Valley  and  Rock  River 
Valley.  In  1915  glass  sand  was  mined  at  Utica,  Ottawa,  Wedron,  Sen¬ 
eca,  Millington,  and  Oregon,  as  shown  on  the  map,  figure  5.  At  many 
other  localities  along  the  Rock  and  Illinois  rivers  this  formation  might 
be  profitably  worked ;  and  in  Calhoun  County  between  West  Point  and 
Dogtown  its  outcrop  is  about  150  feet  in  thickness.  It  is  reported  that  a 
glass  sand  deposit  occurs  at  Greenville,  Bond  County. 

An  increase  of  10  per  cent  in  amount  of  molding  sand  results  from 
increased  demand  of  the  manufacturers  of  machinery  and  munitions.  The 
average  price  per  ton,  however,  fell  from  57  cents  per  ton  to  51  cents,  and 
the  total  value  of  molding  sand  was  less  in  1915  than  the  previous  year. 


FLUORSPAR 

Since  1905  Illinois  has  led  in  the  production  of  fluorspar  and  Ken¬ 
tucky  now  holds  second  place.  The  total  output  of  fluorspar  in  1915  was 
the  largest  in  the  history  of  the  State,  but  as  the  production  was  from 
only  two  producers  the  figures  must  be  concealed.  This  enormous  in¬ 
crease  is  in  harmony  with  the  increased  activity  in  steel  manufacturing. 
The  value  of  the  output,  however,  was  not  so  high  as  in  1912  (Table  22). 
This  decline  in  value  per  ton  has  been  caused  largely  by  the  improvements 
in  milling  and  handling  of  larger  quantities ;  but  it  is  believed  that  the 
operators  have  kept  the  price  down  in  order  to  procure  and  to  hold  for 
domestic  spar  the  eastern  markets,  formerly  supplied  by  importations  of 
spar  which  have  been  interrupted  by  the  European  war.  Heretofore  the 
imported  material  has  been  slightly  cheaper  for  eastern  markets,  but  that 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


61 


from  Illinois  is  much  purer  and  it  is  hoped  by  the  producers  that  in  the 
future  the  imported  spar  will  not  be  in  demand. 

The  Illinois-Kentucky  district  is  practically  the  only  source  of  spar 
for  the  American  market  and  the  product  is  used  in  steel-making  and 
foundry  work  mainly;  only  a  small  fraction  of  the  output  contains  less 
than  1  per  cent  silica  and  is  used  in  enameling,  chemical,  and  glass  trades. 
The  commercial  importance  of  the  Illinois  fluorspar  district  is  rapidly 
growing.  The  small  mines  in  the  Rocky  Mountain  region  can  hardly  ever 
expect  to  compete  with  those  in  Illinois,  as  the  proximity  of  our  location 
to  the  steel  mills  gives  these  mines  a  decided  advantage.  Illinois  produces 
almost  five  times  as  much  as  Kentucky,  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  and  New 
Hampshire  together.  The  two  leading  operators  have  during  the  last  year 
been  extending  their  workings  considerably,  and  1916  promises  to  be  a 
record  breaker. 

In  Fope  and  Hardin  counties  the  fluorspar  accompanied  by  smaller 
amounts  of  many  other  minerals,  occurs  in  fissure  veins  that  mark  planes 
of  extensive  faulting.  These  tabular  ore  bodies  are  commonly  10  to  12 
feet  thick  and  in  places  attain  a  thickness  of  25  feet.  By  far  the  largest 
ore  body  is  the  Fairview-Rosiclare  which  consists  of  two  veins  having  a 
northeasterly  trend  and  merging  just  south  of  the  Rosiclare  mine.  The 
two  active  mines  for  1915  were  the  Fairview  and  Rosiclare  which  had 
operated  steadily  for  a  great  many  years.  They  have  reached  depths 
exceeding  400  and  500  feet  and  find  the  veins  of  undiminished  strength 
and  thickness. 


Table  22. — Production  in  short  tons  and  value  of  fluorspar  in  Illinois,  1902- 1915 


Year 

% 

Quantity 

Value 

Year 

Quantity 

Value 

1902  _ 

18,360 

$121,532 

1909  _ 

41,852 

$232,251 

1903  _ 

11,413 

57,620 

1910  _ 

47,302 

277,764 

1904  _ 

17,205 

122,172 

1911  _ 

68,817 

481,635 

1905  _ 

33,275 

220,206 

1912  _ 

114,410 

756,653 

1906  _ 

28,268 

160,623 

1913  _ 

85,854 

550,815 

1907  _ 

25,128 

141,971 

1914  _ 

73,811 

426,063 

190S  _ 

31,727 

172,838 

1915 _ 

(a) 

(a) 

''Concealed  because  of  only  two  producers. 


MINERAL  WATERS 

The  production  of  mineral  waters  in  Illinois  for  1915  was  from  23 
springs,  Gravel  Springs  near  Jacksonville,  Morgan  County,  having  pro¬ 
duced  by  far  the  largest  amount.  Four  new  wells  reported  an  output,  and 
two  ceased  commercial  production.  Table  23  shows  a  decrease  as  com¬ 
pared  with  1914  which  was  the  record  year.  The  price  per  gallon  is  stead¬ 
ily  falling,  due  probably  to  the  improvement  of  municipal  supplies. 


62 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Table  23. — Production  in  gallons  and  value  of  mineral  waters  in  Illinois ,  1903-1915 


Year 

Number 
of  springs 

Quantity 

Value 

Average  price 
per  gallon 

1903  . 

.  20 

1,118,240 

$149,978 

$0.13 

1904  . 

.  14 

392,800 

38,096 

.10 

1905  . 

.  11 

425,750 

47,995 

.11 

1906  . 

.  15 

574,453 

77,287 

.14 

1907  . 

.  15 

720,400 

91,760 

.13 

1908  . 

.  17 

685,763 

58,904 

.09 

1909  . 

.  14 

639,460 

49,108 

.08 

1910  . 

.  16 

1,117,620 

83,148 

.07 

1911  . 

.  14 

1,304,950 

82,330 

.06 

1912  . 

.  17 

1,143,625 

74,445 

.07 

1913  . 

.  21 

1,216,442 

68,549 

.06 

1914  . 

.  21 

1,760,030 

81,307 

.05 

1915  . 

.  23 

1,559,489 

75,290 

.05 

SILICA 

Two  forms  of  silica  were  mined  commercially  in  Illinois  in  1915 — tripoli 
and  quartz.  The  production  of  tripoli  in  1915  by  four  operators  in  Alex¬ 
ander  and  Union  counties  far  exceeded  that  of  any  other  year  (Table  24). 
Because  of  the  check  on  importation,  this  country  has  been  forced  to  look 
to  its  own  resources  for  supplies,  and  it  has  been  found  that  the  heavy  beds 
of  disintegrated  Devonian  chert  that  outcrop  in  great  thicknesses  in  south¬ 
ern  Illinois  are  a  very  satisfactory  substitute  for  the  imported  French  chert 
used  in  the  manufacture  of  the  high-grade  white  ware.  The  ground  quartz 
sand  of  Ottawa  (St.  Peter  sandstone)  is  also  used  somewhat,  but  the 
amorphous  silica  or  tripoli  is  better  adapted  for  this  purpose.  It  has  been 
partly  this  new  use  that  has  increased  the  demand  for  the  Illinois  product. 
Missouri  has  produced  small  amounts  used  in  making  filters,  but  Illinois  is 
the  main  source  of  this  product. 

Table  24. — Production  in  short  tons  and  zalue  of  tripoli  mined  in  Illinois,  igog- 1915 


Year  Quantity  Value 


1909  . 

$  38,262 

33,390 

45,910 

27,339 

128,892 

1910  . 

1911  . 

1912  . 

1913  . 

12,994 

1914  . 

10,387 

59,394 

1915  . 

23,756 

502,937 

The  Illinois  tripoli  has  been  used  for  some  time  as  a  paint,  wood  filler, 
metal  polish,  in  soaps,  cleansers,  glass  manufacture,  and  for  facing  foundry 
molds.  The  process  of  preparation  consists  essentially  in  fine  crushing  and 
careful  sizing,  since  the  value  of  any  grade  depends  mainly  on  the  fineness 
and  uniformity  of  grain.  Silica  employed  in  the  pottery  business  must  be 
free  from  contamination  by  iron.  Considerable  interest  in  the  exploita- 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


63 


tion  of  the  Illinois  deposit  is  now  being  shown,  and  undoubtedly  a  new  and 
rapid  growth  has  begun. 


PYRITE  AND  SULPHURIC  ACID 

A  decrease  of  34  per  cent  in  quantity  of  output  of  pyrite  was  suffered 
in  1915.  The  rank  of  Illinois,  however,  still  remained  fourth,  having  been 
preceded  by  Virginia,  California,  and  Ohio.  Throughout  the  country  a 
large  demand  for  pyrite  for  the  manufacture  of  sulphuric  acid  made  the 
total  United  States  production  much  larger  than  ever  before. 

The  industry  of  pyrite-mining  in  Illinois  is  only  incidental,  and  is 
associated  with  coal  mining.  Especially  in  Vermilion  County  the  value 
of  whose  production  was  almost  100  per  cent  of  the  State  total,  is  the 
industry  developed,  since  the  pyrite  (or  marcasite  in  reality)  occurs  in  the 
coal  of  this  district  in  distinct  lenses  and  bands  instead  of  being  finely 
disseminated  throughout  the  coal  as  in  most  parts  of  the  State.  Madison 

Table  25. — Production  in  long  tons  and  value  of  pyrite  mined  in  Illinois,  1909-1915 


Year 

Quantity 

Value 

Average  price 
per  ton 

1909  . 

5,600 

$17,551 

$2.60 

1910  . 

8,541 

28,159 

3.30 

1911  . 

17,441 

47,020 

2.70 

1912  . 

27,008 

62,980 

2.33 

1913  . 

11,246 

31,966 

2.84 

1914  . 

22,538 

59,079 

2.62 

1915  . 

14,849 

22,476 

1.51 

County  reported  a  very  small  production.  Miners  are  paid  by  the  ton  for 
the  pyrite  thrown  out  of  the  coal,  an  inducement  to  load  as  clean  and 
marketable  coal  as  possible. 

Table  25  gives  the  production  of  pyrite  from  1909  to  1914.  Previous 
to  1909  the  reports  of  production  were  combined  with  those  of  Indiana. 

The  sulphuric  acid  produced  in  Illinois  is  a  by-product  in  the  smelting 
of  zinc  in  which  process  the  waste  gases,  sulphur  dioxide  and  sulphur  triox¬ 
ide,  are  converted  into  acid.  The  grade,  60°  Peaume,  given  in  Table  5  is 
78.04  per  cent  sulphuric  acid,  and  the  amount  produced  in  Illinois  smelters 
in  1914  was  equivalent  to  about  111,000  long  tons  of  pyrite  associated 
with  the  ore;  as  the  acids  as  reported  for  1915  were  not  convertible  to  the 
same  strength,  the  quantity  can  not  be  stated. 


LEAD,  ZINC,  AND  SILVER 

The  lead  and  zinc  deposits  of  Illinois  fall  into  two  distinct  areas  of 
very  different  geologic  character.  Those  of  northern  Illinois  occur  in 
the  gently  folded  Galena  dolomite  and  upper  part  of  the  Platteville  lime¬ 
stone,  both  of  Ordovician  age.  Those  in  Hardin  and  Pope  counties  are 


64 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


associated  with  fluorspar  in  fissure  veins  controlled  by  jointing  and  fault¬ 
ing  in  the  Mississippian  limestones  in  the  northern  extension  of  the  Ken¬ 
tucky-1  llinois  fluorspar  district. 

Northern  Illinois. — The  increasing  importance  of  zinc  in  northern 
Illinois  is  shown  in  Table  27,  practically  none  having  been  produced  in  the 
southern  section.  The  entire  output  for  northern  Illinois  in  1915  was  from 
the  Galena  district  where  the  quantity  of  lead  produced  was  practically 
the  same  as  for  the  previous  year,  but  the  total  value  was  21  per  cent 
greater.  The  output  of  zinc  increased  15  per  cent  and  the  value  179  per 
cent.  The  tenor  of  the  ore  produced  is  shown  in  Table  26. 

The  Galena  district  has  shown  considerable  activity  and  development 
during  the  past  year.  The  Vinegar  Hill  Zinc  Company  drilled  13  holes 
on  one  lease  and  will  mine  there  during  1916;  on  another  lease  36  holes 
were  put  down,  a  shaft  sunk,  and  a  200-ton  concentrating  plant  begun. 
The  Wisconsin  Company  is  developing  the  Birbeck  mine  extensively  and 
has  completely  rebuilt  the  property  of  the  Joplin  Separating  Company  that 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1910.  The  Pittsburg  mine  claims  a  new  roasting 
and  separating  plant  for  1915. 

The  largest  production  of  lead  and  zinc  concentrates  in  northern  Il¬ 
linois  in  1915,  as  the  previous  year,  was  from  the  old  Marsden-Black  Jack 
mine  of  the  Mineral  Point  Zinc  Company ;  second  in  production  was  the 
Pittsburg  mine  of  the  Great  Western  Lead  Manufacturing  Company; 
and  the  third  in  output  was  the  North  Unity  mine  of  the  Vinegar  Hill 
Zinc  Company.  Other  smaller  mines  reported  activity. 

Southern  Illinois. — In  the  southern  district  the  lead  and  silver  are 
recovered  as  by-products  in  the  concentration  of  the  fluorspar  with  which 
the  argentiferous  galena  is  associated  in  the  veins.  Therefore  since  the 
fluorspar  production  was  decidedly  greater  in  1915  than  the  year  before, 
the  increase  in  lead  and  silver  was  also  marked.  No  shipments  of  zinc 
ore  have  been  reported  since  1906.  The  difficulty  of  making  a  clean  sep¬ 
aration  of  the  zinc  middlings  has  kept  down  the  output  of  this  product  in 
southern  Illinois.  In  1915  the  quantity  of  lead  produced  was  slightly 
more  than  double  that  for  1914,  and  the  value  146  per  cent  greater.  The 
increase  in  the  quantity  of  silver  was  83  per  cent,  in  the  value  68  per  cent. 

The  galena  of  southern  Illinois  is  notable  argentiferous,  the  silver 
content  ranging  up  to  12  and  14  fine  ounces  per  ton  of  lead  concentrates, 
and  averaging  for  the  last  five  years  4  to  7  fine  ounces  per  ton.  The 
average  silver  content  per  ton  recovered  from  the  lead  concentrates  de¬ 
creased  from  6.86  ounces  in  1914  to  6.03  ounces  in  1915. 

The  largest  producer  of  fluorspar  and  lead  cencentrates  in  southern 
Illinois  is  the  Rosiclare  Lead  and  Fluorspar  Company  which  has  a  long 
and  steady  record  of  production  and  is  now  mining  at  a  depth  of  more 
than  500  feet  and  possesses  a  modern  equipment  sufficient  to  handle  500 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


65 


Table  26. — Tenor  of  lead  and  zinc  ore  and  concentrates  in  Illinois,  1914  and  1915 


NORTHERN  ILLINOIS 

Total  crude  ore - short  tons - 

Total  concentrates  in  crude  ore: 

Lead  _ per  cent - 

Zinc  _ per  cent - 

Metallic  content  of  crude  ore: 

Lead  _ per  cent - 

Zinc  _ per  cent _ 

Average  lead  content  of  galena  concentrates - per  cent - 

Average  zinc  content  of  sphalerite  concentrates _ per  cent _ 

Average  value  per  ton: 

Galena  concentrates  - 

Sphalerite  concentrates  - 

SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS 

Average  lead  content  of  galena  concentrates - per  cent - 

Average  value  per  ton  of  galena  concentrates  - - 


1914 

1915 

261,300 

316,000 

0.25 

0.22 

6.4 

6.5 

.19 

.17 

2.3 

2.18 

76.2 

72.9 

36.5 

33.5 

$44.70 

$47.27 

$19.13 

$36.73 

73.5 

71.6 

$39.99 

$43.45 

Table  27. — Production  and  value  of  lead,  zinc,  and  silver  in  Illinois,  1907- 19 15 


Year 

District 

Lead 

Zinc 

Silver 

Quan¬ 

tity 

Value 

Quan¬ 

tity 

Value 

Quan¬ 

tity 

Value 

1907 

Total  . 

Short 

tons 

830 

$87,980 

33,516 

Short 

tons 

737 

$  86,966 

161,398 

Fine 

ounces 

2,852 

2,051 

1,882 

1,087 

1908 

Total  . 

399 

1,717 

1909 

Northern  Illinois . 

Southern  Illinois . 

88 

20  7 

7,566 

17,804 

2,163 

223,604 

1,011 

526 

Total  . 

295 

25,370 

8,888 

23,936 

32,824 

56,250 

30,510 

1910 

Northern  Illinois . 

Southern  Illinois . 

101 

272 

3,549 

383,292 

2,022 

1,092 

Total  . 

373 

.... 

1911 

Northern  Illinois . 

Southern  Illinois . 

625 

339 

4,219 

480,966 

3,036 

•  •  •  • 

1,609 

Total  . 

964 

86.760 

1912 

Northern  Illinois . 

Southern  Illinois . 

687 

595 

61,830 

53,550 

4,065 

560,970 

4,731 

2,909 

Total  . 

1,282 

115,380 

1913 

Northern  Illinois . 

Southern  Illinois . 

588 

371 

51,744 

32,648 

2,236 

250,432 

3,541 

2,139 

Total . 

959 

84,392 

1914 

Northern  Illinois . 

Southern  Illinois . 

492 

225 

38,376 

17,550 

4,811 

490,722 

2,112 

1,168 

Total  . 

717 

55,392 

46,530 

43,146 

1915 

Northern  Illinois . 

Southern  Illinois . 

495 

459 

5,534 

1,372,432 

3,864 

1,959 

Total . 

954 

89,676 

66 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


tons  daily.  The  Fairview  Fluorspar  and  Lead  Company  is  another  large 
operator  which  is  planning  further  development  of  the  Good  Hope  vein 
which  it  has  been  working  since  1862.  A  new  shaft  has  been  put  down, 
and  prospects  seem  favorable  for  increased  activity. 

MINERAL  PAINTS 

In  1915  the  pigments  made  in  Illinois  directly  from  the  ores  were 
sublimed  white  lead  or  “basic  lead  sulphate"  and  sublimed  blue  lead  or 
“blue  fume";  the  St.  Louis  Smelting  and  Refining  Company  at  Collins¬ 
ville  is  one  of  two  firms  manufacturing  this  product  in  the  United  States. 
The  chemically  manufactured  pigments  made  at  Chicago,  Argo,  and  East 
St.  Louis  were  litharge  or  lead  monoxide ;  lithopone  or  a  mixture  of  about 
70  per  cent  barium  sulphate,  from  25  to  29  per  cent  zinc  sulphide,  and 
from  1  to  5  per  cent  zinc  oxide;  red  lead  which  is  produced  by  heating 
litharge ;  and  basic  carbonate,  white  lead  which  contains  about  85  per  cent 
lead  oxide  and  15  per  cent  carbon  dioxide  and  water.  The  total  value  of 
all  these  products  was  $6,195,435,  but  only  the  value  for  sublimed  lead 
was  included  in  the  total  Illinois  value  of  mineral  products,  as  duplication 
would  be  involved  if  the  others  were  also  included. 


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Weller,  Stuart,  Anticlinal  structure  in  Randolph  County:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  31,  p.  69,  1915. 


GASOLINE 

Burrell,  F.  M.  S.,  and  Oberfell,  G.  G.,  The  condensation  of  gasoline  from  natural 
gas:  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  Bull.  88,  1915. 

Kay,  F.  H.,  Petroleum  in  Illinois  in  1914  and  1915:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  33, 
1916. 


68 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


CLAY  AND  CLAY  PRODUCTS 

Bleinjnger,  A.  V.,  Lines,  E.  F.,  and  Layman,  F.  E.,  Portland  cement  resources  of 
Illinois :  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  17,  1912. 

Cady,  G.  H.,  Cement-making  materials  near  La  Salle  (includes  analyses  of  clay)  :  Ill. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  8,  p.  127,  1909. 

Rolfe,  C.  W.,  Purdy,  R.  C.,  Talbot,  A.  N.,  and  Baker,  I.  O.,  Paving  brick  and  paving 
brick  clays  of  Illinois:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  9,  1908. 

Purdy,  R.  C.,  and  DeWolf,  F.  W.,  Preliminary  investigation  of  Illinois  fire  clays  :  Ill. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  4,  p.  129,  1907. 

Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Savage,  T.  E.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Murphysboro- 
Herrin  folio  (No.  185),  p.  15,  1912. 

- U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Tallula-Springfield,  folio  (No. 

188),  p.  12,  1913. 

-  and  Trowbridge,  A.  C.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Galena-Elizabeth 

folio  (No.  200),  p.  12,  1916. 

Udden,  J.  A.,  Geology  and  mineral  resources  of  the  Peoria  quadrangle :  U.  S.  Geologi¬ 
cal  Survey  Bull.  506,  pp.  89-90,  1912. 

-  and  Shaw,  E.  W.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Belleville-Breese 

folio  (No.  195),  p.  14,  1915. 

Udden,  Jon,  and  Todd,  J.  E.,  The  occurrence  of  structural  materials  in  Illinois:  Ill. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  342,  1910. 

LIMESTONE  AND  CEMENT 

Alden,  W.  C.,  The  stone  industry  in  the  vicinity  of  Chicago  :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 
Bull.  213,  pp.  357-360,  1903. 

Bleininger,  A.  V.,  Lines,  E.  F.,  and  Layman,  F.  E.,  Portland  cement  resources  of 
Illinois:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  17,  1912. 

Burchard,  E.  F.,  Concrete  materials  in  vicinity  of  Chicago  :  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  8,  p.  245,  1907. 

Cady,  G.  H.,  Cement  making  materials  near  La  Salle  :  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull. 
8,  p.  127,  1907. 

Eckel,  E.  C.,  Burchard,  E.  F.,  and  others,  Portland  cement  materials  and  industry 
of  the  United  States  :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Bull.  522,  1913. 

Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Savage,  T.  E.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Murphysboro- 
Herrin  folio  (No.  185),  p.  15,  1912. 

-  and  Trowbridge,  A.  C.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Galena-Eliza¬ 
beth  folio  (No.  200)  p.  12,  1916. 

Udden,  J.  A.,  and  Shaw,  E.  W.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Belleville-Breese 
folio  (No.  195),  p.  14,  1915. 

Udden,  Jon,  The  Shoal  Creek  limestone:  Ill.  State  Geological  Survey  Bull.  8,  p.  117, 
1907. 

-  and  Todd,  J.  E.,  The  occurrence  of  structural  materials  in  Illinois:  Ill.  State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  342,  1910. 

Van  Horn,  F.  B.,  Limestones  available  for  fertilizers :  Ill.  State  Geological  Survey 
Bull.  4,  p.  177,  1907. 

Weller,  Stltart,  The  Salem  limestone  :  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  8.  1907. 


MINERAL  RESOURCES  IN  1915 


69 


LIME 

Burchard,  E.  F.,  and  Emley,  W.  E.,  Source,  manufacture,  and  use  of  lime:  U.  S. 
Geological  Survey  Mineral  Resources,  1913,  pt.  2,  pp.  1,509-1,593,  1914. 

Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Trowbridge,  A.  C.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Galena- 
Elizabeth  folio  (No.  200),  p.  12,  1916. 

SAND  AND  GRAVEL 

Burchard,  E.  F.,  Glass  sand  of  the  middle  Mississippi  Basin  :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 
Bull.  285,  1906. 

-  Production  of  glass  sand,  other  sand,  and  gravel,  in  1909  (includes  analyses 

of  Illinois  sands)  :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Mineral  Resources,  1909,  pt.  2,  pp. 
519-542,  1911. 

- Concrete  materials  in  the  Chicago  district :  Ill.  State  Geological  Survey  Bull. 

8,  p.  345,  1907. 

Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Savage,  T.  E.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Tallula-Spring- 
field  folio  (No.  188),  p.  12,  1913. 

Udden,  J.  A.,  Geology  and  mineral  resources  of  the  Peoria  quadrangle:  U.  S.  Geologi¬ 
cal  Survey  Bull.  506,  p.  97,  1912. 

Udden,  Jon,  and  Todd,  J.  E.,  The  occurrence  of  structural  materials  in  Illinois:  Ill. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  342,  1907. 

FLUORSPAR 

Bain,  H.  Foster,  Fluorspar  deposits  of  southern  Illinois :  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Bull. 
255,  1905. 

Burchard,  E.  F.,  Methods  of  concentration  of  fluorspar  :  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Mineral 
Resources,  1908,  pp.  609-611,  1909. 

-  Mining  and  milling  developments  in  the  Illinois  fluorspar  industry :  U.  S. 

Geological  Survey  Mineral  Resources,  1910,  pp.  706-709,  1911. 

Ulrich,  E.  O.,  and  Smith,  W.  S.  T.,  The  lead,  zinc,  and  fluorspar  deposits  of  western 
Kentucky:  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Prof.  Paper  36,  1905. 

TRIPOLI  OR  SILICA 

Bain,  H.  Foster,  Analyses  of  silica  deposits  of  southern  Illinois :  Ill.  State  Geol. 
Survey  Bull.  4,  p.  185,  1907. 

Ernest,  T.  R.,  Experiments  on  the  amorphous  silica  of  southern  Illinois:  Ill.  State 
Geol.  Survey  Bull.  8,  p.  147,  1907. 

Savage,  T.  E.,  Lower  Paleozoic  stratigraphy  of  southwestern  Illinois  :  Ill.  State  Geol. 
Survey  Bull.  8,  p.  113,  1907. 

Williams,  W.  S.,  Artificial  silicates  with  reference  to  amorphous  silica:  Ill.  State 
Geol.  Survey  Bull.  14,  p.  276,  1909. 

LEAD  AND  ZINC 

Bain,  H.  Foster,  Lead  and  zinc  deposits  of  Illinois:  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Bull. 
225,  1904. 

-  Fluorspar  deposits  of  southern  Illinois  (includes  discussion  of  lead  and 

zinc)  :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Bull.  255,  1905. 


70 


YEAR  ROOK  FOR  1915 


-  Zinc  and  lead  deposits  of  northwestern  Illinois :  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 

Bull.  246,  1905. 

-  Zinc  and  lead  deposits  of  the  upper  Mississippi  Valley :  U.  S.  Geological 

Survey  Bull.  294,  1906. 

Cox,  G.  H.,  Lead  and  zinc  deposits  of  northwestern  Illinois:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  21,  1914. 

-  Elizabeth  sheet  of  the  lead  and  zinc  district  of  northern  Illinois:  Ill.  State 

Geol.  Survey  Bull.  16,  p.  24,  1910. 

Grant,  U.  S.,  and  Purdue,  M.  J.,  Millbrig  sheet  of  the  lead  and  zinc  district  of  north¬ 
western  Illinois:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  8,  p.  335,  1911. 

Shaw,  E.  W.,  and  Trowbridge,  A.  C.,  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Geol.  Atlas,  Galena- 
Elizabeth  folio  (No.  200),  1916. 


PETROLEUM  IN  ILLINOIS  IN  1914  AND  1915 

By  Fred  H.  Kay 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

General  review  .  71 

Southeastern  Illinois  .  73 

Cumberland,  Coles,  Clark,  Jasper,  and  Edgar  counties .  73 

Crawford  County  .  74 

General  conditions  .  74 

Deep  sands  .  75 

Wildcatting  .  76 

Lawrence  County  .  76 

Wabash  County  .  77 

Western  Illinois  .  77 

McDonough  County  .  77 

Hancock  County  .  78 

Schuyler  County  .  79 

Wildcat  tests  in  1915 .  79 

Summary  of  tests  in  Schuyler  County .  80 

South-central  Illinois  .  80 

Macoupin  County  .  80 

Staunton  oil  and  gas  field  .  80 

Spanish  Needle  Creek  dome  .  83 

Clinton  County  .  83 

Marion  County  .  86 

Miscellaneous  drilling  .  86 

Cementing  process  as  practiced  in  Illinois .  87 

New  fields  for  casing-head  gasoline  tests .  88 

Summary  tables  .  89 

TABLES 

28.  Illinois  oil  production,  1905-1915  .  72 

29.  Fluctuation  in  prices,  per  barrel,  of  Illinois  petroleum,  1914-1915 .  73 

30.  Data  concerning  wells  and  coal  tests  in  the  vicinity  of  Staunton  .  84 

31.  Monthly  record  of  wells  drilled  in  Illinois  in  1914  and  1915 .  89 

32.  County  record  of  wells  drilled  in  Illinois  in  1914  and  1915 .  89 

GENERAL  REVIEW 

The  production  of  oil  in  Illinois  continued  to  decline  in  1914  and 
1915.  The  former  year  as  compared  with  1913  showed  a  decrease  of 
1,974,150  barrels,  or  8.2  per  cent;  whereas  in  1915  the  production  was 
19,041,695,  a  decline  of  13.6  per  cent.  Table  28  shows  the  annual  produc¬ 
tion  and  value  of  Illinois  oil  from  1905  to  1915  inclusive.  The  State 
reached  its  greatest  output  in  1908,  when  it  produced  33,686,238  barrels. 
It  continued  to  produce  more  than  30,000,000  barrels  until  1912,  but  a 

(71) 


72 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


steady  decline  has  been  in  progress  since  1911.  The  new  fields  that  have 
been  discovered  have  not  been  able  to  overcome  the  normal  decline  in  the 
output  of  Crawford,  Lawrence,  and  Clark  counties. 


Previous 

1905  ... 

1906  ... 

1907  ... 

1908  ... 

1909  ... 

1910  ... 

1911  ... 

1912  ... 

1913  ... 

1914  ... 

1915  ... 


Table  28. — Illinois  oil  production,  1905-191=, 


Barrels 

Value 

6,576 

$  . 

181,084 

116,561 

4  397,050 

3,274.818 

24,281,973 

16,432,947 

33,686,238 

22,649,561 

30,898,339 

19,788,864 

33,143,362 

19,669,383 

31,317,038 

19,734,339 

28,601,308 

24.332,605 

23  893,899 

30,971,910 

21,919,749 

25,426,179 

19,041,695 

18,655,850 

The  State  maintained  its  rank  as  third  in  production  until  1915  when 
the  discovery  of  new  prolific  fields  in  Texas  forced  Illinois  into  fourth 
place,  and  unless  some  unexpected  discovery  is  made,  it  will  probably  be 
compelled  to  yield  its  present  rank  to  Louisiana  in  1916. 

The  first  half  of  1914  was  characterized  by  a  considerable  amount  of 
development  work  which  was  stimulated  by  the  strong  market.  The  de¬ 
clining  prices  prevailing  during  the  latter  months  resulted  in  a  marked  de¬ 
crease  in  the  number  of  well  completions.  Inactivity  continued  until  the 
latter  months  of  1915  when  the  rapidly  advancing  prices  brought  a  response 
which  augurs  well  for  the  coming  year.  Table  29  shows  the  fluctuation 
in  price  per  barrel  for  the  years  1914  and  1915. 

In  1914,  according  to  J.  D.  Northrup,1  1,579  wells  were  completed,  of 
which  number  1.163  or  nearly  74  per  cent  yielded  an  average  initial  produc¬ 
tion  of  33.75  barrels  per  well  per  day;  28.  or  about  1  per  cent  were  gas 
wells,  and  the  remaining  388,  or  25  per  cent  were  barren.  I11  1915  only  756 
wells  were  completed,  according  to  the  Oil  and  Gas  Journal  and  the  Oil 
City  Derrick.  Of  these  72  per  cent  yielded  an  initial  production  of  26 
barrels  each;  18,  or  2  per  cent,  were  gas  wells  and  197,  or  26  per  cent, 
were  dry. 

1Xorthrup,  T.  D.,  Illinois  oil  field:  U.  S.  Geol.  Survey  Mineral  Resources,  1914,  pp.  9S4-992, 


1916. 


PETROLEUM,  1914  AND  1915 


73 


Table  29. — Fluctuation  in  prices,  per  barrel,  of  Illinois  petroleum,  1914-1915 


Date  1914 

Jan.  1  . $1.45 

April  18  .  1.40 

April  22  .  1.35 

April  28  .  1.30 

May  1  .  1.25 

May  5  .  1.20 

May  12  .  1.15 

June  17  .  1.12 

Aug.  1  .  1.07 

Aug.  7  .  1.02 

Sept.  14  .  0.97 

Sept.  23  .  0.92 

Oct.  26  .  0.89 


Average  . $1.16 


Date  1915 

Feb.  16  . . $0.84 

Aug.  12  .  0.89 

Aug.  20  .  0.94 

Aug.  23  .  0.99 

Sept.  4  .  1.04 

Sept.  15  . 1.09 

Sept.  27  .  1.12 

Oct.  5  .  1.17 

Oct.  23  .  1.27 

Nov.  15  .  1.32 

Nov.  17  .  1.37 

Dec.  3  .  1.42 

Dec.  15  .  1.47 

Jan.  3,  1916 .  1.57 


Average  . $0,992 


At  the  beginning  of  1914,  stocks  in  Illinois  aggregated  8,179,351  bar¬ 
rels.  There  was  a  gradual  accumulation  of  oil  in  storage  throughout  the 
year  and  on  Dec.  1,  1914,  the  tanks  held  13,563,743  barrels.  On  Jan.  1, 
1915  the  Ohio  Oil  Company  stocks  amounted  to  12,375,165  barrels,  but  by 
Feb.  1  they  had  been  reduced  to  3,675,839  barrels.  The  remainder  of  the 
year  showed  only  minor  fluctuations  and  on  Dec.  1,  1915  this  company  held 
5,234,963  barrels  in  storage. 

The  decline  of  high  grade  production  from  the  Cushing,  Oklahoma, 
field,  the  more  normal  export  conditions,  and  the  constantly  increasing  de¬ 
mand  for  motor  fuels  have  resulted  in  a  phenomenal  rise  in  prices  and 
have  started  the  oil  industry  on  its  way  to  unprecedented  development. 
The  coming  year  will  no  doubt  see  wildcatting  on  a  large  scale  in  an  effort 
to  locate  new  fields. 


SOUTHEASTERN  ILLINOIS 
Cumberland,  Coles,  Clark,  Jasper,  and  Edgar  Counties 

Out  of  a  total  of  1,579  wells  drilled  in  Illinois  in  1914,  271  or  17  per 
cent,  were  in  the  shallow-sand  fields  of  Cumberland,  Coles,  Clark,  Jasper, 
and  Edgar  counties.  The  production  in  this  area  comes  from  lenticular 
sandstones  and  porous  limestones  which  vary  in  depth  from  350  feet  to  about 
600  feet.  Initial  production  varies  from  5  to  10  barrels  but  within  3  or 
4  months  it  declines  to  less  than  5  barrels.  Many  of  the  wells  in  the  Casey 
pool  now  yield  an  average  of  only  ljj  barrels  per  day. 

In  1915,  out  of  a  total  of  756  wells,  192  were  drilled  in  the  shallow 
territory.  Attention  was  naturally  directed  to  this  area  on  account  of  the 
low  drilling  cost  as  compared  to  the  deep  sand  territory  of  Lawrence 
County. 


74 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


In  Cumberland  County  slight  additions  to  the  productive  territory 
were  made  in  1914,  but  during  the  2-year  period  included  in  this  report 
most  of  the  drilling  has  been  confined  to  inside  locations,  that  had  been  neg¬ 
lected  as  long  as  higher-yielding  territory  was  available.  The  drilling  of  new 
wells  within  30  or  40  feet  of  old  ones  has  been  attended  with  some  suc¬ 
cess  in  parts  of  the  shallow-sand  area.  In  most  places  it  is  found  that  the 
initial  yield  of  the  new  well  very  nearly  equals  the  initial  production  of 
the  old  well  which  may  have  been  producing  5  or  6  years.  The  explana¬ 
tion  probably  lies  in  the  fact  that  the  sands  near  the  old  wells  become  so 
clogged  with  parafifin  that  the  ordinary  methods  of  cleaning  do  not  render 
the  pores  free  from  wax.  Re-shooting  in  many  instances  produces  no 
beneficial  efifect,  whereas  the  drilling  of  another  hole  about  40  feet  distant 
taps  the  sand  where  it  is  fresh  and  where  the  oil  has  free  access  to  the  well. 

The  producing  sands  of  the  shallow  fields  are  “spotty”  and  irregular 
and  the  finding  of  a  dry  hole  means  only  that  the  sand  is  absent  at  that 
location.  A  producer  may  be  brought  in  a  short  distance  away. 

Crawford  County 

GENERAL  CONDITIONS 

In  1915,  only  215  wells  were  drilled  in  Crawford  County,  as  compared 
with  706  completed  during  1914.  A  large  part  of  this  drilling  was  routine, 
deepening  of  old  wells  and  drilling  inside  locations.  Town-lot  excitement 
prevailed  at  Robinson  during  the  early  part  of  1914  but  the  area  was  rap¬ 
idly  drilled  and  almost  exhausted. 

Most  of  the  new  drilling  at  the  close  of  1915  was  in  Honey  Creek 
Township,  secs.  2,  3,  13  and  24,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W. ;  secs.  18  and  19,  T.  5  N., 
R.  11  W. ;  and  secs.  34  and  35,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  Of  these  secs.  13,  18,  19, 
and  24  had  not  been  drilled  until  the  latter  part  of  1914.  Secs.  2  and  3 
constituted  the  Shafifer  and  Smathers  gas  area,  which  has  now  been  drilled 
to  oil  sands  below  the  gas.  The  initial  production  of  about  35  barrels  de¬ 
clines  rapidly  to  about  2  barrels  per  day. 

On  Jan.  1,  1915,  according  to  Mr.  W.  W.  McDonald  of  the  Ohio  Oil 
Company,  the  average  settled  production  of  Crawford  County  wells  was 
2.8  barrels  each  and  by  the  end  of  the  year  it  had  dropped  to  about  2.4  bar¬ 
rels  each. 

The  production  of  the  wells  in  secs.  15  and  16,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey 
Creek),  holds  up  better  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  county.  The  wells 
.are  almost  7  years  old  and  their  average  daily  production  is  about  4.2  bar¬ 
rels  or  75  per  cent  greater  than  the  average  for  the  county.  The  wells  in 
the  heavy  oil  district  north  of  Flat  Rock  are  showing  remarkable  staying 
qualities.  New  wells  between  old  ones  have  about  the  same  initial  produc¬ 
tion  as  the  original  wells  and  the  decline  is  slow.  The  pool  seems  to  lie 
along  the  axis  of  a  narrow  anticline  which  extends  northeast  at  right  angles 


PETROLEUM,  1914  AND  1915 


75 


to  the  La  Salle  anticline.  The  oil  increases  in  gravity  toward  the  northeast 
along  this  small  fold.  The  sands  dip  below  the  level  of  salt  water  northwest 
and  southeast  of  the  pool,  and  production  is  limited  to  a  strip  about  ^  mile 
wide. 

Wells  in  the  Flat  Rock  pool  show  about  four  times  as  much  water  as  in 
any  other  part  of  the  county  south  of  the  Bellair  pool,  in  the  northwest  part 
of  the  county.  Salt  water  is  especially  troublesome  in  sec.  11,  T.  8  N.,  R.  14 
W.  (Licking)  ;  in  secs.  30,  31,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.,  and  36,  T.  6  N.,  12  W. 
(Honey  Creek)  ;  and  in  sec.  29,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Montgomery).  Much 
of  the  casing  is  corroded  in  4  or  5  months  to  such  a  degree  that  it  must  be 
replaced.  The  Ohio  Oil  Company  now  purchases  only  copperized  casing 
and  it  is  believed  that  corrosion  will  be  lessened,  although  this  type  has 
not  been  in  use  long  enough  to  determine  whether  or  not  the  increased  life 
of  the  casing  will  offset  its  higher  cost.  It  is  now  proposed  to  pump  mud¬ 
laden  fluid  into  the  well  outside  of  the  casing  in  order  to  shut  off  acid 
waters  near  the  coal  beds.  Its  usefulness  in  this  field  has  not  yet  been  dem¬ 
onstrated,  but  since  it  has  been  used  successfully  in  California  and  Okla¬ 
homa  for  sealing  up  sands  containing  gas  under  high  pressure,  there  ap¬ 
pears  to  be  no  reason  why  it  could  not  be  used  to  prevent  strong  acid 
waters  from  reaching  the  outside  of  the  casing.  However,  this  will  not  be 
effective  so  far  as  the  water  in  the  oil  sand  is  concerned. 

DEEP  SANDS  IN  CRAWFORD  COUNTY 

In  Honey  Creek  Township,  secs.  2,  3,  and  4,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.,  and  secs. 
34  and  35,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.,  wells  were  formerly  drilled  to  a  depth  of  1000 
feet  as  in  the  Parker  pool,  and  only  gas  was  produced.  Within  the  last 
year  and  a  half  the  Ohio  Oil  Company  has  drilled  75  feet  deeper  and  into 
an  oil  sand  which,  although  not  so  productive  as  the  sands  in  the  Parker 
pool,  nevertheless  shows  wells  with  an  initial  production  of  40  or  50  bar¬ 
rels  per  day.  A  decline  of  50  per  cent  occurs  during  the  first  month  and 
continues  to  a  settled  production  of  5  or  6  barrels  per  day. 

In  Oblong  Township,  secs.  17,  18,  19,  and  20,  T.  7  N.,  R.  13  W.,  pro¬ 
ducing  sands  are  found  at  about  1,320  and  1,400  feet;  and  in  sec.  3,  T.  5  N., 
R.  12  W.,  and  sec.  28,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.,  of  Honey  Creek  Township,  Shaffer 
and  Smathers  found  gas  and  sour  oil  at  1,520  feet  in  mixed  sand  and 
limestone,  which  probably  represents  the  McClosky.  Limestone  was  found 
to  a  depth  of  2,225  feet. 

At  the  center  SE.  )4  sec.  27,  T.  6  N.,  R.  13  W.  (Martin),  and  Ohio  Oil 
Company  found  the  McClosky  sand  at  1,260  feet.  The  well  was  exhausted 
after  2  years’  pumping.  In  the  NW.  )4  SE.  34  sec.  15,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W. 
(Honey  Creek),  the  top  of  the  lime  from  1.510  to  1,540  feet  is  filled  with 
salt  water. 


76 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


WILDCATTING  IN  CRAWFORD  COUNTY 

The  narrow  anticlines  that  extend  northeast  from  Flat  Rock  and  Birds, 
as  shown  by  the  present  producing  areas  and  the  gas  wells  that  have  been 
drilled  at  various  places  in  the  east  side  of  the  county,  have  encouraged  the 
hope  that  oil  might  be  located  east  of  the  present  pools. 

It  is  well  known  that  on  the  east  side  of  the  La  Salle  anticline  the  beds 
dip  much  more  gradually  than  on  the  west,  and  that  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  county  they  start  to  rise  toward  Indiana  where  older  beds  outcrop  in 
succession.  The  basin  bordering  the  La  Salle  anticline  on  the  east  is  shallow 
and  it  is  not  unreasonable  to  expect  pools  of  oil  and  gas  where  the  sands 
rise  above  the  level  of  salt-water  saturation  east  of  the  basin,  provided  the 
dip  is  not  regular.  With  these  facts  in  mind,  members  of  the  Survey  have 
attempted  to  collect  all  the  available  information  bearing  on  the  dip  of  the 
beds.  The  altitude  of  a  limestone,  which  outcrops  at  various  places  and 
which  is  identifiable  by  the  fossils  it  contains,  was  determined  by  T.  E.  Sav¬ 
age  during  the  summer  of  1915.  Instrument  levels  were  run  by  J.  L.  Rich 
and  party  to  all  of  the  wells,  and  available  logs  were  secured. 

After  plotting  the  data  on  a  map,  it  is  found  that  the  limestone  outcrops 
are  so  scattered  that  they  are  practically  useless  for  showing  the  position  of 
the  underlying  beds.  There  is  reason  to  believe  also  that  the  limestone  does 
not  lie  perfectly  parallel  to  the  deep  rocks  and  that  its  evidence  might  lead 
to  an  incorrect  interpretation  of  the  oil  sand  structure. 

A  study  of  the  logs  brings  out  the  fact  that  the  sands  are  “spotty”  and 
that  correlations  from  one  hole  to  another  are  uncertain,  especially  where 
the  wells  are  a  mile  or  so  apart.  It  is,  therefore,  impossible  to  state  defin¬ 
itely  whether  the  apparently  higher  position  of  a  sand  is  due  to  its  dip  or 
to  the  existence  of  two  separate  beds. 

In  general,  the  presence  of  gas  may  be  taken  to  indicate  that  the  sand 
containing  it  lies  somewhat  higher  than  in  surrounding  territory.  Most  of 
the  wells  near  Wabash  River,  east  of  the  Birds  pool  show  gas  bubbling  up 
through  salt  water.  However,  the  area  on  the  Illinois  side  has  been  fairly 
well  tested  and  only  two  small  pools  have  been  developed.  One  lies  in 
sec.  7,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W. ;  the  other,  which  shows  gas  only,  is  in  sec.  18 
of  the  same  township. 

Lawrence  County 

In  1915  only  157  wells  were  completed  as  compared  with  365  in  1914. 
The  low  price  of  oil  did  not  stimulate  drilling  in  this  deep-sand  territory. 

Considerable  excitement  followed  the  discovery,  April  6,  1914,  of  a 
3,100-barrel  well  on  the  M.  J.  Murphy  farm  sec.  5,  T.  2  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Den¬ 
nison),  which  led  to  a  substantial  southeast  addition  to  the  productive  area 
of  the  McClosky  sand,  at  1,835  feet.  The  large  yields  soon  gave  place  to 
much  lower  production.  During  the  latter  part  of  1914,  a  separated  pool 
was  located  in  secs.  20  and  29,  T.  2  N.,  R.  11  W.,  southwest  of  St.  Francis- 


PETROLEUM,  1914  AND  1915 


77 


ville.  The  McClosky  sand  at  this  place  lies  at  about  the  same  depth  as  in 
the  Murphy  pool. 

According  to  Mr.  Tracy  of  the  Ohio  Oil  Company  the  average  daily 
production  of  Lawrence  County  is  about  6.83  barrels  per  well  as  compared 
with  9.14  barrels  in  January,  1914.  However,  Lawrence  County  continues 
to  be  the  largest  producer  in  the  State  on  account  of  its  large  number  of 
sands.  Only  an  occasional  addition  is  made  to  productive  territory,  but 
many  of  the  large  farms  contain  considerable  undrilled  land  and  near 
Bridgeport  several  farms  are  yet  to  be  drilled  to  the  deeper  sands. 

The  Buchanan  and  Bridgeport  sands  maintain  a  very  good  production 
and  contain  little  gas ;  whereas  the  Kirkwood,  which  shows  a  considerable 
amount  of  gas,  has  a  large  initial  production  and  declines  rapidly.  The 
Buchanan  shows  the  encroachment  of  salt  water  in  the  edge  wells  which 
produce  a  larger  amount  yearly,  especially  in  the  area  south  of  Bridgeport. 
Great  loss  is  entailed  in  the  destruction  of  casing  by  corroding  waters  in 
the  Kirkwood  and  Bridgeport  sands.  At  one  well,  center  sec.  35,  T.  3  N., 
R.  12  W.  (Dennison),  copperized  casing  was  rendered  useless  in  20  months. 
However,  the  Lawrence  County  acid  waters  do  not  appear  to  effect  as  great 
destruction  as  do  those  of  Crawford  and  Clark  counties. 

The  manufacture  of  casing-head  gasoline  is  assuming  greater  import¬ 
ance  annually.  At  present  about  20  plants  are  operating  in  the  main  fields, 
all  but  3  being  in  Lawrence  County.  The  product  which  is  worth  many 
thousands  of  dollars  yearly,  was  wasted  until  the  present  plants  came  into 
use.  The  average  recovery  of  gasoline  is  said  to  be  between  1  and  2  gallons 
per  1000  cubic  feet  of  casing-head  gas. 

Wabash  County 

Six  wells  were  completed  in  the  Allendale  field  in  1915  of  which  5  gave 
a  combined  initial  production  of  328  barrels.  There  are  now  45  producing 
wells  in  the  pool.  The  territory  has  not  been  extended  to  any  material 
extent,  although  a  good  well  has  been  found  north  of  the  original  Adam 
Biehl  No.  1. 

The  Allendale  pool  is  located  on  a  small  elongate  dome  with  north-south 
axis,  on  the  west  dip  of  the  La  Salle  anticline.  A  report  on  the  field  by 
J.  L.  Rich  was  published  by  the  Survey  in  Bulletin  31. 

WESTERN  ILLINOIS 
McDonough  County 

On  March  5,  1914,  a  showing  of  5  gallons  of  oil  in  a  425-foot  well  in 
sec.  20,  T.  4  N.,  R.  4  W.  (Lamoine),  and  the  prospecting  that  followed 
resulted  in  the  opening  of  the  Colmar  pool  on  the  J.  Hoing  farm  in  the 
SW.  NW.  J4  sec.  16  of  the  same  township.  The  oil  was  found  in  a  sand, 
later  known  as  the  Hoing  sand,  at  a  depth  of  417  feet.  Great  excitement 


78 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


followed  and  by  the  end  of  1914,  about  200  wells  had  been  drilled  in  the 
Colmar  district,  of  which  59  were  dry.  The  initial  output  of  the  141  pro¬ 
ducers  amounted  to  3,989  barrels. 

The  pool  developed  in  1914  lies  on  a  flat  part  of  the  oil  sand  at  the 
northeast  side  of  a  low  well-defined  dome,  the  top  of  which  had  produced 
only  small  showings  of  oil  up  to  1915.  Roberts  No.  1  near  the  center  sec.  24, 
St.  Marys  Township,  Hancock  County,  was  located  at  the  south  end  of  the 
dome  and  produced  45  barrels  initially.  Others  were  drilled  immediately, 
but  all  of  them  found  salt  water  in  the  sand.  In  July,  1915,  drilling  on  the 
Hamm  farm  at  the  apex  of  the  dome  in  sec.  19,  T.  4  N.,  R.  4  W.  (Lamoine), 
developed  wells  good  for  100  barrels,  and  this  pool  furnished  most  of  the 
development  of  the  year.  Another  small  area  of  good  production  is  located 
near  Colmar  in  the  south  part  of  sec.  18,  of  the  same  township. 

The  oil  sand  lies  at  or  near  the  base  of  the  Niagaran  limestone,  known 
as  the  “second  lime.”  It  was  probably  deposited  in  depressions  on  the  sur¬ 
face  of  the  shale  that  underlies  the  limestone,  and  therefore  the  sand  exists 
as  lenses  separated  by  areas  in  which  the  limestone  lies  directly  on  the  shale 
with  no  intervening  sand.  No  direct  connection  is  apparent  between  the 
Hoing  pool  where  the  sand  lies  90  feet  above  sea  level  and  the  Hamm  pool 
in  which  the  sand  is  70  feet  higher.  Likewise  the  pool  at  the  town  of  Colmar 
lies  on  the  north  side  of  the  dome  and  probably  has  no  direct  connection  in 
the  sand  with  either  of  the  other  pools. 

In  November,  1915,  106  wells  belonging  to  the  Ohio  Oil  Company 
yielded  about  3,450  barrels  per  week.  Most  of  this  oil  was  produced  by  the 
comparatively  small  number  of  wells  in  the  new  Hamm  pool. 

In  1915,  130  wells  were  drilled  in  McDonough  County  having  an  initial 
production  of  2,592  barrels  per  day,  and  32  were  dry.  The  area  was  orig¬ 
inally  recommended  in  a  report  by  H.  Hinds  of  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey 
in  cooperation  with  the  State  Geological  Survey,  and  a  later  report  on  the 
held  was  published  in  Bulletin  31  of  the  State  Survey. 

The  dome  in  the  oil  sand  conforms  very  closely  in  position  and  amount 
to  the  arching  of  coal  No.  2  which  was  mapped  before  any  oil  wells  had 
been  drilled. 


Hancock  County 

Section  13,  T.  4  N.,  R.  5  W.  (St.  Marys),  has  not  been  thoroughly 
prospected.  It  is  impossible  to  state  whether  or  not  the  Hoing  sand  is  pres¬ 
ent  in  the  section,  but  if  the  lens  of  sand  which  extends  in  an  east-west  direc¬ 
tion  on  the  J.  B.  McAllister  farm  in  the  southern  part  of  sec.  18  and  north¬ 
ern  part  of  sec.  19,  T.  4  N.,  R.  4  W.  (Lamoine),  does  continue  to  the  west, 
at  least  the  southern  half  of  sec.  13,  T.  4  N.,  R.  5  W.  (St.  Marys),  would 
bear  testing. 


PETROLEUM,  1914  AND  1915 


79 


Schuyler  County 

WILDCAT  TESTS  IN  I915 

Considerable  wildcat  drilling  was  undertaken  during  1915  in  Schuyler 
County,  for  the  most  part  confined  to  domes  to  which  attention  had  been 
called  by  the  Survey  in  Bulletin  31,  issued  in  August.  The  structure  of 
the  county  was  worked  out  during  1914  by  methods  similar  to  those  prev¬ 
iously  employed  in  the  Colmar  area.  Several  areas  were  described  in  which 
the  beds  lie  higher  than  in  the  surrounding  territory.  Being  fully  cog¬ 
nizant  of  the  “spotty”  nature  of  the  Hoing  sand  and  of  the  possibility  and 
even  the  probability  that  it  is  absent  over  most  of  the  county,  the  Survey 
prefaced  its  description  of  the  structural  features  by  the  following  para¬ 
graph  which  is  quoted  from  Bulletin  31  : 

“Because  the  oil-producing  bed  is  lenticular  and  is  absent  over  consid¬ 
erable  areas,  the  selection  of  favorable  locations  for  drilling  is  fraught  with 
more  than  the  usual  element  of  uncertainty.  There  is  little  doubt  that  in 
some  of  the  areas  described  below,  the  sand  is  absent,  and  in  this  event  there 
will  be  no  accumulation  of  oil  despite  the  favorable  geological  structure.  It 
is  hoped  that  the  sand  is  present  in  at  least  a  few  of  the  areas  listed  below  so 
that  the  combination  of  porous  beds  with  favorable  dips  may  be  tested.  The 
presence  or  absence  of  the  sand  cannot  be  predicted  in  advance  of  the  drill." 

The  Scott  Mill  dome  was  well  tested  by  the  Ohio  Oil  Company,  and  no 
sand  was  found  at  the  Hoing  horizon.  Similar  results  followed  drilling  in 
the  dome  southwest  of  Rushville.  The  same  company  drilled  a  well  a  short 
distance  from  the  Huntsville  terrace  without  finding  any  sand,  and  it  is 
probable  that  no  sand  is  present  in  the  terrace  itself. 

In  sec.  9  of  the  Buena  Vista  dome  the  Indian  Refining  Company  found 
a  good  showing  of  oil  in  the  upper  part  of  the  “second  line.”  However, 
the  Hoing  sand  was  absent. 

South  of  the  Frederick  terrace  the  Ohio  Oil  Company  drilled  a  hole 
where  the  beds  are  20  feet  lower  than  on  the  top  of  the  terrace.  They  found 
no  Hoing  sand,  but  considerable  gas  and  a  large  amount  of  salt  water  in 
the  second  lime.  If  the  sand  had  been  present  in  this  well,  another  test 
y<\  mile  northwest  would  be  advisable  but  it  is  probable  that  no  sand  is  pres¬ 
ent  on  the  terrace  proper.  The  well  drilled  by  this  company  2  miles  north¬ 
east  of  Frederick  is  located  in  a  basin  which  would  be  regarded  unfavorable. 

The  Macomb  Oil  and  Gas  Company  in  their  Caldwell  No.  1.  NE.  *4 
NE.  14  sec.  11,  T.  3  N.,  R.  2  W.  (Littleton),  reports  18  feet  of  white  sand, 
saturated  with  salt  water  at  the  Hoing  horizon.  The  sand  was  found  at  a 
depth  of  585  feet.  The  same  sandstone,  likewise  saturated  with  salt  water, 
was  found  at  692  feet  in  the  Bovey  well  of  the  Macomb  Oil  and  Gas  Com¬ 
pany,  SE.  l/4  SW.  *4  sec.  14  of  the  same  township.  Similarly,  Elting  and 
others  in  Dean  No.  1,  NE.  %  NE.  *4  sec.  20,  T.  3  N.,  R.  1  W.  (Oakland), 
report  10  feet  of  Hoing  sand  with  water  and  a  showing  of  oil  at  700  feet. 


80 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


C.  E.  Hites  and  Company  completed  a  well  40  rods  from  the  north  line 
and  60  rods  from  the  east  line  of  sec.  13,  T.  3  N.,  R.  2  W.  (Littleton),  where 
the  beds  are  somewhat  higher  than  in  the  wells  mentioned  immediately 
above.  At  a  648-foot  depth,  the  Hoing  sand  was  found,  and  in  the  upper 
3  feet  a  good  showing  of  oil  was  noted.  As  the  well  was  deepened,  however, 
salt  water  came  in  and  filled  the  hole  350  feet.  It  was  impossible  by  bailing 
to  lower  the  water  more  than  150  feet,  but  when  the  bailer  was  run,  a  good 
showing  of  oil  was  found. 

The  presence  of  the  sand  in  the  wells  near  Littleton  and  the  shows  of 
oil  that  have  been  noted  are  favorable  indications  for  the  northeastern  part 
of  Schuyler  County.  The  last  well  mentioned  is  located  near  the  highest 
part  of  a  low  dome  in  which  coal  No.  2  is  600  feet  above  sea  level.  The  fact 
that  the  sand  is  saturated  with  salt  water  makes  it  seem  rather  doubtful  that 
the  sand  rises  enough  in  the  immediate  vicinity  to  hold  a  commercial  amount 
of  oil  above  the  water.  A  considerable  area  in  Littleton  and  Oakland  town¬ 
ships  probably  contains  the  Hoing  sand.  The  surface  outcrops  of  rocks  by 
which  the  structure  can  be  determined  are  scarce.  The  beds  lie  higher  in 
the  dome  mentioned  above — namely,  3  miles  east  and  1  mile  north  of  Little¬ 
ton,  as  pointed  out  in  Bulletin  31,  than  anywhere  else  in  Littleton  and  Oak¬ 
land  townships  where  measurements  were  possible. 

SUMMARY  OF  TESTS  IN  SCHUYLER  COUNTY 

During  1915,  7  wells  were  drilled  on  domes  and  terraces  in  Schuyler 
County ;  ten  others  were  drilled  without  regard  to  structure  or  at  least  so 
far  from  favorable  features  that  they  can  not  be  regarded  as  tests  except  as 
to  the  presence  or  absence  of  the  sand.  Of  the  7  wells  drilled  on  domes  and 
terraces,  6  found  no  sand  at  the  Hoing  horizon,  a  probability  to  which  at¬ 
tention  was  called  in  Bulletin  31.  Despite  the  absence  of  sand,  the  Indian 
Refining  Company,  in  sec.  9,  T.  2  N.,  R.  2  W.  (Buena  Vista),  found  a  splen¬ 
did  show  of  oil  in  the  “second  lime,”  near  the  top  of  the  Buena  Vista  dome. 
The  only  well  located  near  the  top  of  the  Littleton  dome — C.  E.  Hites  and 
Company,  NE.  Rj  NE.  %  sec.  13,  T.  3  N.,  R.  2  W.  (Littleton) — found  a 
good  show  of  oil  in  the  Hoing  sand  which  contains  salt  water. 

SOUTH-CENTRAL  ILLINOIS 
Macoupin  County 

STAUNTON  OIL  AND  GAS  FIELD 

In  1914  the  Illinois  Geological  Survey  described  a  dome  northwest  of 
Staunton,  Macoupin  County.2  The  existence  of  the  dome  was  determined 
by  the  position  of  coal  No.  6  in  coal  test  holes  drilled  by  the  C.  &  N.  V  .  R. 
R.  Co.  It  was  later  described  in  greater  detail  by  Wallace  Lee  of  the  U.  S. 

2Blatchley,  Raymond  S.,  Oil  and  gas  in  Bond,  Macoupin,  and  Montgomery  counties:  Ill. 
State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  28,  1914.  Also  Kay,  F.  IT,  Coal  resources  of  District  VII:  Illinois  Coal 
Mining  Investigations  Bull.  11,  1915. 


PETROLEUM,  1914  AND  1915 


81 


Geological  Survey  in  cooperation  with  the  Illinois  Survey.3  Early  in  1915, 
Miller  Bros.,  of  Staunton,  drilled  a  well  near  the  highest  part  of  the  dome 
in  the  SE.  cor  SW.  34  SW.  34  sec.  14,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.  (Dorchester),  and 
brought  in  a  large  production  of  gas  from  a  sand  at  441  feet.  Prospecting 
was  stimulated,  and  before  the  end  of  the  year  a  number  of  wells  were 
drilled  in  the  area.  In  the  N.  sec.  23,  and  the  S.  sec.  14,  7  gas  wells 
were  completed,  the  largest  of  which  (Daniel  Groves  No.  1),  is  reported  to 
have  a  capacity  of  20,000,000  cu.  ft.  per  day. 

One  mile  northwest  of  the  principal  gas  area,  the  Ohio  Oil  Co.  drilled 
G.  W.  Groves  No.  1  in  the  NE.  cor.  SE.  34  NW.  34  sec.  15,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W., 
and  at  461  feet  reached  a  sand  that  produced  about  2,000.000  cu.  ft.  of  gas 
per  day.  At  480  feet  a  show  of  black  oil  was  found,  and  at  565  a  good  show 
of  green  oil  was  developed.  Salt  water  came  in  at  the  same  time.  About 
1  mile  southeast  of  the  main  gas  wells  the  Miller  Bros,  completed  a  5-barrel 
oil  well  at  the  center  of  sec.  24,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.  The  sand  lies  at  442  feet. 
In  the  SE.  34  SW.  34  sec.  24,  Fleeger  and  Lamberton  discovered  gas  at  427 
with  a  reported  flow  of  about  700,000  cu.  ft.  per  day. 

The  large  gas  wells  are  located  on  the  top  of  the  dome,  where  the  beds 
lie  from  40  to  60  feet  higher  than  in  the  surrounding  area.  In  the  Isaacs 
well,  NW.  34  SW.  >4  sec.  12,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.,  coal  No.  6  is  almost  as  high 
as  it  is  in  the  dome  1)4  miles  southwest.  However,  without  further  drilling 
it  is  impossible  to  state  definitely  whether  or  not  the  sands  are  high  all  the 
way  between  the  gas  area  and  the  Isaacs  well.  The  lower  position  of  the 
coal  and  sands  northwest  and  southeast  of  the  gas  wells,  together  with  the 
altitude  of  the  coal  southwest  and  northeast  of  the  present  main  field,  make  it 
seem  probable  that  the  dome  is  longer  northeast-southwest  than  in  the 
opposite  direction. 

The  producing  sands  lie  in  the  basal  part  of  the  “Coal  Measures,”  the 
upper  one  occupying  about  the  position  of  coal  No.  2.  No  single  sandstone 
can  be  traced  throughout  the  area ;  in  other  words,  the  sands  were  probably 
deposited  in  channels  whose  streams  eroded  away  the  beds  such  as  the  coals 
normally  in  the  bottom  part  of  the  “Coal  Measures.”  Two  such  lenses  are 
represented  in  the  larger  gas  wells,  the  top  of  the  first  being  from  195  to 

215  feet  below  the  top  of  coal  No.  6,  whereas  in  H.  Woolridge  No.  1,  SW.  34 

SE.  34  sec.  14,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.,  no  sand  was  found  at  the  upper  horizon,  but 

255  feet  below  coal  No.  6  a  good  flow  of  gas  was  tapped  in  a  lower  lens. 

This  lower  sand  corresponds  in  position  with  the  sand  from  which  oil 
is  obtained  in  the  Miller  oil  well  at  the  center  of  sec.  24,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W. 
Whether  or  not  the  sand  is  continuous  between  the  two  wells  must  be  decided 
by  the  drill.  It  is  probable  that  the  sand  233  feet  below  the  coal  in  the  gas 
well,  NW.  34  NE.  >4  sec.  23,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.,  represents  a  lens  intermediate 
between  the  two  mentioned  above. 

3Lee,  Wallace,  Oil  and  Gas  in  Gillespie  and  Mt.  Olive  quadrangles:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  31,  p.  101,  1915. 


82 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Half-way  between  the  oil  well  and  the  main  gas  field,  the  upper  sand 
lies  35  feet  lower  than  at  the  gas  wells,  and  in  A.  Schnaare  Xo.  1,  XE.  *4 
SE.  J4  sec.  23,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.,  only  a  show  of  gas  was  found,  although  the 
sand  is  20  feet  thick.  The  well  was  continued  to  610  feet  and  at  605  feet, 
or  330  feet  below  coal  No.  6,  salt  water  was  tapped.  The  top  of  the  gas- 
producing  sand  in  E.  D.  Wilder  No.  2,  SE.  l/^  SW.  }4  sec.  24,  T.  7  N., 
R.  7  W.  is  222  feet  below  coal  No.  6  and  may  be  the  intermediate  lens  be¬ 
tween  the  main  gas  sand  and  the  oil-producing  sand  in  L.  Schnaare  No.  1, 
center  sec.  24.  However,  the  sands  vary  greatly  in  thickness,  and  it  is  likely 
that  in  places  they  are  connected. 

In  his  report  on  the  Gillespie  and  Mt.  Olive  quadrangles,  Wallace  Lee4 
calls  attention  to  3  productive  lenses  of  sand  in  the  Carlinville  field,  the 
upper  one  about  200  feet  below  coal  No.  6,  the  second  20  or  25  feet  lower, 
and  the  main  horizon  15  to  25  feet  below  the  second.  In  position,  the  Staun¬ 
ton  sands  agree  in  general  with  those  at  Carlinville,  although  it  must  be 
understood  that  laterally  at  any  given  horizon  shale  exists  here  and  there 
in  place  of  sand,  and  no  one  sand  is  continuous. 

In  G.  W.  Groves  No.  1  in  the  SE.  Rj  NW.  }4  see.  15,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W., 
the  upper  sand,  at  461  feet,  lies  55  feet  lower  than  at  the  wells  in  the  south 
part  of  sec.  14,  a  fact  that  is  corroborated  by  the  position  of  the  coal  which 
shows  the  same  amount  of  dip.  Two  million  cubic  feet  of  gas  per  day  and  a 
strong  show  of  black  oil,  together  with  salt  water,  were  found  in  the  upper 
sand,  whereas  a  good  showing  of  light-green  oil  was  found  in  a  sand  at  565 
feet,  302  feet  below  the  coal.  Only  one  other  well,  A.  Schnaare  No.  1, 
NE.  >4  SE.  >4  sec.  23,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.,  has  tested  this  deep  sand  near  the 
top  of  the  dome.  In  this  well  a  salt  sand  in  approximately  the  same  position 
was  reached  at  605  feet. 

According  to  available  data  it  would  seem  reasonable  to  expect  some  ex¬ 
tension  of  the  main  gas-producing  area  on  all  sides  of  the  top  of  the  dome. 
It  would  seem  well  at  first  to  test  the  remainder  of  sec.  14,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W., 
in  a  general  northeast  direction  from  the  present  wells.  The  SE.  J4  sec.  15 
should  be  tested  to  determine  the  possibility  of  securing  commercial  gas  for 
some  distance  down  the  dip  toward  G.  W.  Groves  No.  1.  The  show  of  oil  in 
the  Groves  sands  encourages  the  belief  that  higher  up  the  dip,  above  the  salt 
water,  some  oil  may  have  accumulated. 

The  structure  appears  favorable  in  the  northwest  part  of  sec.  24  and 
the  southwest  part  of  sec.  13,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.,  but  only  the  drill  can  deter¬ 
mine  whether  or  not  sand  is  present.  If  the  sand  is  continuous  from  the 
gas  wells  in  secs.  23  and  14  to  the  oil  well  at  the  center  of  sec.  24.  a  good 
deal  of  productive  territory  should  be  developed. 

Drilling  for  oil  should  be  done,  location  by  location,  away  from  the 
Schnaare  oil  well,  cen.  sec.  24,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.,  and  unless  shallower  sands 

4Lee,  Wallace,  Oil  and  Gas  in  Gillespie  and  Mt.  Olive  quadrangles:  Til.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  31,  pp.  71-107,  1915. 


PETROLEUM,  1914  AND  1915 


83 


produce,  all  holes  should  be  continued  to  a  depth  of  at  least  270  feet  below 
coal  No.  6.  If  the  operator  desires  to  test  the  horizon  that  produced  a  show 
of  green  oil  in  the  G.  W.  Groves  well,  he  should  drill  about  330  feet  below 
coal  No.  6. 

Coal  test  holes  near  the  center  of  sec.  10,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.  (Dorchester), 
show  that  the  coal  lies  almost  350  feet  above  sea  level,  whereas  in  the  NE. 
cor.  sec.  10  it  is  at  least  20  feet  lower.  One  mile  south,  at  the  G.  W.  Groves 
well,  SE.  ^  NW.  sec.  15,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.,  the  coal  is  312  feet  above 
sea  level.  At  the  center  of  sec.  9,  its  altitude  is  337  feet. 

The  gas  and  oil  at  the  Groves  well,  and  the  higher  altitude  of  the  coals 
near  the  center  of  sec.  10  would  render  worth  while  a  test  at  about  the  cen¬ 
ter  of  sec.  10.  The  sands  may  be  absent,  but  no  prediction  can  be  made  in 
advance  of  the  drill. 

Table  30  furnishes  such  information  as  is  available  regarding  the  Staun¬ 
ton  wells.  Very  few  complete  logs  have  been  preserved,  and  consequently 
one  who  attempts  correlations  that  are  very  important  as  regards  the  sands, 
is  decidedly  handicapped. 

SPANISH  NEEDLE  CREEK  DOME 

In  Mr.  Lee’s  report  included  in  Bulletin  31,  he  recommended  the  Span¬ 
ish  Needle  Creek  dome,  which  lies  chiefly  in  the  western  part  of  sec.  21, 
T.  9  N.,  R.  7  W.  (Honey  Point).  The  existence  of  the  dome  was  determined 
from  the  position  of  a  limestone  that  outcrops  in  the  area. 

The  first  well  at  the  SE.  cor.  SW.  Vt  NW.  sec.  21,  T.  9  N.,  R.  7  W., 
reached  a  good  flow  of  gas  at  380  feet  in  a  sand  that  continued  to  the  bottom 
of  the  well  at  415  feet.  According  to  Mr.  Thomas  Rinaker,  of  Carlinville, 
the  well  has  a  capacity  of  2,000,000  cu.  ft.  of  gas  per  day.  A  second  well 
was  drilled  near  the  cen.  E.  y2  SW.  ]/\  sec.  21,  where  the  limestone  is  about 
20  feet  higher  than  at  the  first  well.  A  good  flow  of  gas  was  struck  at  364 
but  salt  water  came  in  at  370  and  drowned  the  gas.  The  interval  between 
the  coal  and  sand  in  the  first  well  is  205  feet,  whereas  in  No.  2  it  is  only 
177  feet,  if  the  meagre  records  are  correct.  This  may  signify  that  the  sand 
in  No.  2  is  a  higher  bed  not  present  in  No.  1,  and  that  another  sand  lies 
lower  in  No.  2.  In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  main  horizon  at  the  Carlinville 
field  lies  40  or  50  feet  below  the  upper  bench  of  coal  No.  2,  it  would  be  well 
to  drill  at  least  250  feet  below  coal  No.  6  in  any  attempt  to  test  the  area. 

In  case  salt  water  is  found  in  the  upper  sand,  it  would  he  worth  while 
to  case  it  ofif  for  the  purpose  of  testing  the  lower  sands. 

In  the  old  Carlinville  field  no  wells  were  added  in  1915.  Three  pro¬ 
ducers,  with  a  total  initial  production  of  15  barrels,  were  drilled  in  1914. 

Clinton  County 

The  Carlyle  pool,  discovered  in  1911,  was  quickly  defined  and  only  a 
small  amount  of  inside  drilling  remains  to  he  done. 


Table  30. — Data  concerning  wells  and  coal  tests  in  vicinity  of  Staunton 


84 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


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ftEstimated. 


86 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Salt  water  is  becoming-  more  and  more  troublesome,  especially  at  the 
edges  of  the  field.  A  few  of  the  inside  wells,  such  as  Smith  No.  1,  No.  6. 
and  No.  28,  produce  salt  water  only  and  require  constant  pumping  in  order 
to  keep  the  water  out  of  adjacent  wells.  In  November  1915  the  3  wells 
mentioned  were  producing  100  barrels  of  water  per  24  hours.  The  Hempen 
farm  at  the  southwest  end  and  the  Deter  lease  at  the  northeast  end  show 
increasing  amounts  of  water. 

The  field  shows  the  normal  decline  in  production  and  the  encroachment 
of  salt  water  is  only  natural.  The  field,  though  small  in  area,  has  been  very 
valuable  and  should  continue  to  produce  commercially  for  several  years. 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1915  the  Frogtown  Oil  and  Gas  Company 
brought  in  a  small  well  on  sec.  12,  T.  2  N.,  R.  4  W.  (Breese),  about  4  miles 
west  of  the  Carlyle  field.  The  well  will  probably  not  be  pumped  until  other 
drilling  is  completed.  The  Ohio  Oil  Company  has  made  3  locations  nearby, 
and  the  possibility  of  a  new  pool  will  soon  be  ascertained. 

Marion  County 

At  the  close  of  1914,  118  wells  were  productive  in  the  Sandoval  field. 
Five  were  added  in  1915  with  a  total  initial  production  of  270  barrels,  and 
1  dry  hole  was  drilled.  At  the  end  of  1915,  81  wells  on  17  different  farms 
and  owned  by  7  companies  exclusive  of  the  Ohio  Oil  Company,  were  pro¬ 
ducing  800  barrels  daily  or  an  average  of  nearly  10  barrels  each.  On  the 
farms  mentioned  there  are  only  about  10  undrilled  locations  with  an  esti¬ 
mated  settled  production  of  45  or  50  barrels. 

The  daily  production  of  the  field  is  about  1000  barrels,  which  is  an  ex¬ 
tremely  good  yield  for  a  field  of  its  age.  In  1911,  66  wells  produced  1,800 
barrels,  an  average  of  27.2  barrels  per  well.  Its  decline  to  about  9.8  barrels 
per  well  for  1915  is  a  better  record  than  that  of  most  of  the  Lawrence 
County  sands. 

MISCELLANEOUS  DRILLING 

During  1914  dry  holes  were  drilled  near  Sorento,  Bond  County;  Ma¬ 
homet,  Champaign  County;  Ava,  Jackson  County;  Staunton,  Macoupin 
County;  Collinsville,  Madison  County;  Ohlman  and  Nokomis,  Montgomery 
County ;  Cottage  Grove,  Saline  County ;  Birmingham,  Brooklyn,  and  Cam¬ 
den,  Schuyler  County ;  Mode,  Shelby  County ;  and  Allerton,  Vermilion 
County. 

In  1915  unsuccessful  tests  were  drilled  near  Steelville,  Randolph 
County ;  Carlinville,  Macoupin  County ;  Xenia,  Clay  County ;  Heyworth. 
McLean  County ;  Aledo,  Mercer  County ;  Irishtown,  Clinton  County ;  Ava, 
Jackson  County;  Charleston,  Coles  County;  Kansas,  Edgar  County;  Ten¬ 
nessee,  McDonough  County ;  Lima,  Adams  County ;  Litchfield,  Montgomery 
County;  Plumhill,  Washington  County;  St.  Marys,  Hancock  County; 
Golden,  Adams  County;  West  Salem,  Edwards  County;  Butler,  Montgom¬ 
ery  County;  Belleville,  St.  Clair  County;  and  Equality,  Gallatin  County. 


PETROLEUM,  1914  AND  1915 


87 


At  the  close  of  1915  wildcat  wells  were  drilling  on  sec.  31,  T.  8  N.  R.  7 
E.  (Eldorado),  Saline  County;  in  sec.  21,  T.  1  N.,  R.  4  W.  (Pea  Ridge), 
and  sec.  5,  T.  1  N.,  R.  3  W.  (Missouri),  Brown  County;  sec.  13,  T.  6  N.,  R. 
2  E.  (Otego),  Fayette  County;  sec.  11,  T.  4  N.,  R.  3  W.  (Mills),  and  sec. 
29,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Mulberry  Grove),  Bond  County. 


CEMENTING  PROCESS  AS  PRACTICED  IN  ILLINOIS 

The  use  of  cement  for  excluding  salt  water  from  oil  wells  has  been 
developed  to  considerable  extent  in  different  fields,  especially  in  California. 
A  description  of  the  process  as  practiced  in  that  state  was  published  as 
Technical  Paper  No.  32  of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines.  The  authors  are 
Ralph  Arnold  and  W.  R.  Garfias. 

A  somewhat  different  method  has  been  developed  by  Mr.  W.  \Y. 
McDonald,  of  the  Ohio  Oil  Company,  for  the  Illinois  fields,  and  its  use  has 
been  attended  with  such  success  that  it  is  believed  advisable  to  describe  the 
process  for  the  use  of  the  oil  fraternity.  For  all  of  the  details  the  Survey  is 
indebted  to  Mr.  McDonald. 

The  process  is  adapted  to  completed  wells  which  have  been  drilled  too 
deep  or  wells  in  which  the  shot  has  shattered  the  sand  down  into  the  salt 
water,  and  has  permitted  the  water  to  drown  the  oil,  though  not  to  flow 
from  the  well. 

A  string  of  tubing,  closed  with  a  wooden  plug,  is  lowered  to  the  bottom 
of  the  oil  pay.  The  plug  is  used  to  keep  the  oil  from  entering  the  tubing; 
it  is  knocked  out  after  the  tubing  is  in  place  by  filling  the  tubing  with  water 
and  striking  the  upper  end,  or  if  necessary  by  use  of  sucker  rods.  The 
tubing  is  left  open,  and  water  (either  fresh  or  salt)  is  pumped  down  the 
tubing.  After  pumping  has  continued  15  or  20  minutes,  dry  cement  is  in¬ 
troduced  into  the  tubing  a  handful  at  a  time  and  pumping  is  continued  as 
at  first.  This  process  is  continued  until  the  water  backs  up  in  the  well  very 
materially,  which  means  that  the  pores  in  the  salt  sand  have  been  closed. 

It  should  be  remembered,  however,  that  sands  above  the  water  sand  and 
below  the  casing  may  take  water,  and  prevent  a  marked  rise  in  the  level  of 
water  even  though  the  shattered  salt  sand  is  cemented.  No  more  cement 
should  be  introduced  than  would  fill  the  cavity  up  to  the  bottom  of  the  oil 
sand.  Ordinarily  not  more  than  three  sacks  of  cement  are  required  and  it 
should  be  put  into  the  well  not  faster  than  1  sack  per  hour. 

When  sufficient  cement  is  in  place,  a  small  stream  of  water  is  run  into 
the  tubing  so  that  the  level  of  water  in  the  well  will  be  maintained  above 
normal,  and  a  downward  pressure  be  secured  thereby.  Unless  this  is  done 
the  water  pressure  from  the  sands  into  the  well  will  force  the  cement  out  of 
the  pores  before  it  sets.  The  water  level  in  the  well  is  kept  above  normal 
for  a  period  of  7  days  to  allow  ample  time  for  the  cement  to  harden. 


88 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


The  well  is  then  pumped  and  if  the  work  has  been  properly  done,  no 
further  trouble  follows.  The  method  has  been  used  with  splendid  results 
by  the  Ohio  Oil  Company,  and  is  coming  into  general  use  in  the  Illinois 
fields. 


NEW  FIELDS  FOR  CASING-HEAD  GASOLINE  TESTS 

The  extraction  of  gasoline  from  casing-head  gas  has  been  developed 
extensively  in  the  main  fields,  but  it  is  believed  that  such  pools  as  Carlyle 
and  Sandoval,  where  considerable  quantities  of  gas  exist  with  the  oil,  should 
be  tested  for  possible  gasoline  production. 

Chemical  tests  should  first  be  made  in  order  to  determine  the  amount  of 
gasoline-producing  constituents  in  the  gas  that  issues  with  the  oil.  If  the 
chemical  tests  prove  encouraging;  that  is,  if  the  absorption  of  the  gas  in 
claroline  oil  or  in  alcohol  is  above  30  per  cent,5  field  tests  should  be  made 
with  a  portable  outfit.  Gas,  closely  associated  with  a  high  grade  oil  as  at 
Carlyle  and  Sandoval,  should  contain  an  important  per  cent  of  the  lighter 
constituents.  The  only  safe  procedure,  however,  is  to  have  thorough  pre¬ 
liminary  tests  made,  to  insure  against  failure. 

In  this  connection,  attention  naturally  turns  to  the  Staunton  field.  The 
supply  of  gas  in  this  field  is  great,  and  if  the  production  were  of  the  “wet” 
variety  a  new  industry  might  be  developed.  The  following  points  should  be 
considered : 

1.  A  sample  of  gas  from  D.  Groves  No.  1  on  top  of  the  dome,  produc¬ 
ing  from  the  upper  sand,  appears  to  be  low  in  gasoline  content.  This  is 
the  only  sample  analyzed  by  the  Survey.  The  gas  at  this  well  does  not  seem 
to  be  closely  associated  with  oil ;  however,  when  it  is  considered  that  there 
are  three  different  lenses  of  sand  producing  in  different  parts  of  the  field, 
that  oil  is  known  to  be  present  in  at  least  one  of  them,  as  shown  by  the  Miller 
oil  well,  cen.  sec.  24,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.  (Dorchester),  and  that  the  different 
lenses  may  be  connected  here  and  there,  it  is  obvious  that  samples  from  one 
well  are  not  in  any  sense  representative  of  the  field.  At  least  chemical  tests 
should  be  made  of  each  well's  product.  Especially  is  this  true  of  such  wells 
as  the  E.  D.  Wilder  No.  1,  SE.  >4  SW.  sec.  24,  T.  7  N.,  R.  7  W.  (Dor¬ 
chester),  in  which  the  gas  comes  from  a  sand  that  is  probably  connected 
with  the  oil  sand  in  the  Miller  oil  well. 

2.  The  oil  in  the  Staunton  field  contains  a  lower  per  cent  of  the  lighter 
constituents  than  the  oils  of  Clinton,  Marion,  Lawrence,  and  Crawford  coun¬ 
ties,  and  gas  associated  with  the  oil  at  Staunton  would  probably  not  contain 
so  large  a  per  cent  of  gasoline  as  is  present  in  the  gas  of  the  counties  men¬ 
tioned.  The  notable  supply  of  gas,  however,  renders  thorough  testing 
highly  desirable. 

5Burrell,  G.  A,,  Seibert,  F.  M.,  and  Oberfell,  C.  C.,  The  condensation  of  gasoline  from  nat¬ 
ural  gas:  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines  Bull.  88,  1915. 


PETROLEUM,  1914  AND  1915 


89 


SUMMARY  TABLES 

The  following  tables  show  the  oil  development  in  Illinois  during  1914 
and  1915.  The  figures  have  been  compiled  from  the  Oil  City  Derrick  and 
the  Oil  and  Gas  Journal. 


Table  31. — Monthly  record  of  wells  drilled  in  Illinois  in  1914  to  1915 


Month 

Completed 

New 

production 

Dry  holes 

Average 

initial 

production 

Abandoned 

wells 

Gas  wells 

1914 

1915 

1914 

1915 

1914 

1915 

1914 

1915 

1914 

1915 

1914 

1915 

January  .  . . 

148 

47 

Bbls. 

2,925 

Bbls. 

975 

15 

14 

Bbls. 

21.9 

Bbls. 

29.6 

15 

31 

7 

2 

February  . . 

135 

35 

3,459 

640 

28 

11 

32.3 

26.6 

2 

10 

4 

1 

March  .... 

136 

53 

2,443 

1,478 

18 

11 

20.7 

35.1 

6 

8 

2 

1 

April  . 

192 

54 

4,852 

1,254 

41 

10 

32.1 

28.5 

1 

9 

2 

1 

May  . 

154 

53 

5,552 

953 

35 

19 

46.6 

28.0 

2 

7 

3 

1 

June  . 

180 

54 

6,542 

1,219 

52 

16 

51.1 

32.1 

5 

11 

5 

2 

July  . 

139 

64 

3  801 

1,356 

36 

17 

36.9 

28.8 

16 

13 

3 

1 

August  .... 

142 

71 

2,807 

1,367 

39 

18 

27.2 

25.8 

2 

18 

3 

1 

September  . 

139 

66 

2,925 

1,236 

28 

16 

26.3 

24.7 

12 

12 

0 

1 

October  .  . . 

98 

79 

1,517 

1,263 

27 

19 

21.4 

21.0 

13 

18 

2 

4 

November  . 

63 

84 

1,056 

1,051 

14 

25 

21.6 

17.8 

11 

12 

1 

1 

December  . 

57 

96 

1,358 

1,263 

22 

21 

38.8 

16.8 

10 

6 

0 

2 

Total  .... 

1,583 

756 

45,237 

14,055 

335 

197 

95 

155 

32 

18 

Table  32. — County  record  of  wells  drilled  in  Illinois  in  1914  and  1915 

1914 


County 

Completed 

New 

production 

Dry 

Gas 

Abandoned 

Clark  . 

222 

Bbls. 

1,581 

62 

2 

5 

Cumberland  . 

25 

141 

2 

0 

0 

Crawford  . 

707 

8,613 

136 

28 

48 

Lawrence  . 

365 

24,263 

69 

2 

42 

Marion  . 

7 

70 

1 

0 

0 

Clinton  . 

4 

20 

2 

0 

0 

Wabash  . 

12 

345 

5 

0 

0 

Macoupin  . 

5 

15 

2 

0 

0 

Coles  . 

21 

172 

5 

0 

0 

Madison  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Jasper  . 

5 

28 

2 

0 

0 

Union  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

McDonough  . 

175 

3,944 

35 

0 

0 

Saline  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Bond  . 

2 

0 

2 

0 

0 

Schuyler . 

5 

0 

5 

0 

0 

Hancock . 

20 

45 

19 

0 

0 

90 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Table  32. — County  record  of  wells  drilled  in  Illinois  in  1914  and  1915 — Concluded 

1914 


County 

Completed 

New 

production 

Dry 

Gas 

Abandoned 

Shelby  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Franklin  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Champaign  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Montgomery  . 

2 

0 

2 

0 

0 

Total  . 

1,583 

45,237 

355 

32 

95 

1915 

Clark  . 

141 

1,914 

33 

1 

3 

Cumberland  . 

44 

810 

4 

2 

0 

Crawford  . 

215 

1,766 

55 

8 

87 

Lawrence  . 

157 

6,329 

27 

1 

63 

Coles  . 

3 

35 

1 

0 

0 

Marion  . 

6 

270 

1 

0 

0 

Clinton  . 

2 

0 

2 

0 

0 

Wabash  . 

6 

328 

1 

0 

2 

McDonough  . 

130 

2,592 

32 

0 

0 

Hancock . 

9 

0 

9 

0 

0 

Schuvler . 

17 

0 

17 

0 

0 

Macoupin . 

10 

5 

3 

6 

0 

Montgomery  . 

3 

0 

3 

0 

0 

Edgar  . 

4 

6 

1 

0 

0 

Jackson  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Adams  . 

2 

0 

2 

0 

0 

Washington  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Edwards  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Madison  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

St.  Clair . 

2 

0 

2 

0 

0 

Randolph  . 

1 

0 

1 

0 

0 

Total  . 

756 

14  055 

197 

18 

155 

The  total  number  of  wells  drilled  to  Tan.  1,  1916,  was  23,854  of  which 
4,316  or  18  per  cent  were  dry. 


GEOLOGIC  STRUCTURE  OF  CANTON  AND  AVON 

QUADRANGLES 

By  T.  E.  Savage 

(In  cooperation  with  United  States  Geological  Survey) 


OUTLINE 

Page 


Introduction  .  91 

Strata  penetrated  in  drilling  .  92 

Oil-bearing  bed  .  95 

Relation  of  accumulation  to  folds  in  the  oil-bearing  bed .  96 

Localities  already  tested  .  97 

Gas  in  glacial  drift  .  97 

Structure  of  beds .  97 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PLATE 

II  Map  showing  structure  of  Canton  quadrangle  .  96 

III  Map  showing  structure  of  Avon  quadrangle  .  98 

FIGURE 

6.  Cross-section  showing  relation  of  beds  in  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles  to 

those  of  Colmar  field  .  93 

7.  Diagram  showing  significance  of  unconformities  in  the  Avon-Canton 

region  .  .  96 

8.  Diagram  showing  relation  of  oil  accumulation  to  geologic  structure .  98 


Introduction 

It  should  be  remembered  that  the  geological  structure  is  only  one  of 
the  factors  which  control  the  accumulation  of  oil  and  gas  into  commercial 
deposits.  In  the  Avon-Canton  region  it  is  doubtful  if  the  Hoing  sand 
exists  in  more  than  a  few  separated  areas.  The  most  that  the  geologist 
attempts  to  do  is  to  eliminate  as  much  of  the  chance  as  possible  by  selecting 
areas  in  which  the  beds  are  arched  up  into  domes  or  anticlines  where  the 
accumulation  will  take  place  if  the  sand  is  present,  and  if  the  water  sat¬ 
uration  is  great  enough  to  hold  the  oil  and  gas  in  the  upward  folds.  By 
limiting  exploration  to  small  areas,  the  geologist  renders  invaluable  service, 
but  he  can  by  no  means  guarantee  oil  at  any  given  location.  In  the  present 
paper,  it  is  intended  simply  to  describe  the  position  of  the  beds  in  the  Can- 
ton-Avon  quadrangles.  Idle  Survey  has  received  a  number  of  requests  for 
this  information,  and  since  wells  are  to  be  drilled,  it  would  be  wise  to  test 
first  the  areas  which  have  one  factor — namely,  favorable  geological  struc¬ 
ture,  determined  in  advance  of  drilling. 

The  field  work  upon  which  this  report  is  based  was  done  in  1914  as  part 
of  the  regular  program  of  the  State  Geological  Survey  in  cooperation  with 

(91) 


92 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


the  United  States  Geological  Survey.  Ordinarily  the  present  paper  would 
constitute  part  of  a  geological  folio ;  but  in  view  of  the  wide  interest  and 
renewed  activity  in  the  oil  fields  of  western  Illinois,  it  is  regarded  best  to 
make  immediately  available  any  information  that  may  aid  the  prospector  in 
selecting  the  more  favorable  areas  for  oil  and  gas  accumulation. 


Strata  Penetrated  in  Drilling 

The  strata  in  this  region  are  very  similar  to  those  of  the  Colmar  area. 
Because  of  the  general  eastward  dip,  all  of  the  formations  are  somewhat 
deeper  in  the  territory  under  consideration,  than  in  the  Colmar  field.  Figure 
6  gives  a  graphic  representation  of  the  relation  of  the  strata  in  the  two 
areas. 

The  succession  of  strata  above  the  oil  horizon  known  as  the  Hoing 
sand  and  the  increase  in  the  depth  of  this  horizon  from  the  west  toward  the 
east,  in  the  direction  of  the  dip  in  this  area,  may  be  seen  from  the  logs  of 
drillings  given  below. 

A  boring  put  down  by  J.  E.  Harris  in  the  SW.  Rj  sec.  31,  T.  6  N.. 
R.  1  E.,  near  the  town  of  New  Philadelphia,  reached  the  Hoing  sand  horizon 
at  a  depth  of  651  feet  as  shown  in  the  following  log.  The  sand  itself  is 
not  present.  All  but  the  upper  238  feet  of  this  log  was  compiled  from  a 
study  of  samples  that  were  saved  from  every  bailer  as  the  well  was  put 
down.  The  upper  part  was  taken  from  the  driller’s  record. 


Log  of  well  drilled  in  SIV.  H  sec.  T.  6  N.}  R.  I  E. 


(See  figure  6,  No.  3) 

Thickness  Depth 

Feet  Feet 


Pleistocene  and  Recent — 

Soil  and  yellow  clay .  17  1/ 

Sand,  soft  .  2  19 

Clay,  blue  .  39  58 

Quicksand  and  fine  gravel  (gas  at  58  feet) .  4  62 

Gravel  (water  and  gas) .  10  72 

Pennsylvanian  series — 

Pottsville  formation — 

Limestone  (?)  .  14  86 

Shale,  blue  . 69  155 

Mississippian  series — 

Burlington  limestone  (“first  lime”)  — 

Limestone,  white  to  light  gray  (water) .  190  345 

Kinderhook  shale — 

Shale,  light  gray  to  bluish .  85  430 

Devonian  system — 

Upper  Devonian  (Sweetland  Creek)  shale — 

Shale,  dark  and  light  .  155  585 

Wapsipinicon  limestone  (top  of  “second  lime”)  — 

Limestone,  light  gray,  slight  showing  of  oil  at  610  and  635 

feet  .  56  641 


12  3  4 


0 


100 


-200 


-300 


-400 


-  500 


-  600 


-  700 


-  800 


-900 


L  1000 


Fig.  6. — Cross-section  showing  relation  of  beds  in  Avon  and  Canton  quadrangles 
to  those  of  Colmar  field. 


(93) 


94 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Silurian  system — 

Limestone,  gray,  magnesian  .  10  651 

Horizon  of  Hoing  sand 

Ordovician  system — 

Maquoketa  shale — 

Shale,  bluish  gray  .  160  811 

Shale,  gray,  somewhat  sandy .  20  831 

Galena  limestone — 

Dolomite,  yellowish  gray .  89  920 


About  22  miles  east  of  New  Philadelphia  a  deep  well  at  Canton,  put 
down  for  water  by  the  Parlin  and  Orendorff  Plow  Company,  reached  the 
horizon  of  the  Hoing  sand  at  about  980  feet,  or  nearly  330  feet  deeper  than 
in  the  well  near  New  Philadelphia.  The  log  of  the  Canton  well  is  given 
below : 


Log  of  well  in  SE.  H  TP.  H  sec  27,  T.  7  N.,  R.  4  E. 


(See  figure  6,  No.  4) 


Pleistocene  and  Recent — 


Thickness 

Feet 


Depth 

Feet 


Surface  clay  . 

Sand  . 

Clay,  blue  . 

Pennsylvanian  series — 

Carbondale  formation— 

Shale  . 

Coal  (Springfield  or  No.  5)  . 

Shale  . 

Limestone  . 

Shale  . 

“Slate”  . 

Shale  . 

Coal  . 

Pottsville  formation — 

Clay  shale  . 

Shale  . 

Flint  . 

Shale  . 

“Slate”  . 

Coal  . 

“Slate”  . 

Shale  . 

Limestone  (?)  . 

Shale  . 

Limestone  (?),  blue  . 

Shale,  sandy  . 

Sandstone  and  conglomerate 
Sandstone  . 


22 

22 

2 

24 

16 

40 

40 

80 

4^ 

84  y2 

15 

99]/2 

20 

11954 

61 

180J4 

15 

19554 

30 

225  p2 

227 

6 

233 

15 

248 

5 

253 

35 

288 

7 

295 

1 

296 

12 

308 

50 

358 

17 

375 

23 

398 

18 

416 

12 

428 

30 

458 

7 

465 

CANTON  AND  AVON  QUADRANGLES  95 


Mississippian  series — 

Burlington  formation  (“first  lime’’)  — 

Limestone,  white  .  100  565 

Kinderhook  shale — 

Shale,  gray,  calcareous,  about  .  125  690 

Devonian  system — 

Upper  Devonian  shale — 

Shale,  dark,  with  sporangites,  about .  101  791 

Wapsipinicon  limestone  (top  of  “second  lime”)  — 

Limestone,  gray  .  62  853 

Silurian  system — 

Niagaran  limestone — 

Limestone,  magnesian  .  127  980 


Horizon  of  Hoing  sand 

Ordovician  system — 
Maquoketa  shale — 


Shale  and  limestone  .  175  1155 

Galena-Trenton  limestone — 

Limestone  .  186  1341 

Sandstone  (dolomite)  .  5  1346 

Limestone  .  10  1356 

Sandstone  and  limestone  mixed  .  20  1376 

Limestone  .  69  1445 

St.  Peter  sandstone — 

Sandstone,  white  . . .  28 2  1727 


Definite  figures  regarding  the  thickness  of  the  formations  above  the 
Hoing  sand  cannot  be  given  for  the  entire  area,  since  some  of  them  were 
affected  by  erosion  after  having  been  deposited  and  before  other  beds  were 
laid  down  upon  them ;  in  some  places  this  erosion  progressed  to  greater 
depths  than  in  others. 

The  significance  of  the  unconformities  is  shown  graphically  in  figure  7, 
the  unconformities  being  represented  by  the  irregular  contact  lines  between 
different  formations.  Such  contact  planes  are  simply  ancient  land  surfaces, 
some  of  which  had  almost  as  much  relief  as  the  surface  today ;  whereas 
others  exhibit  a  relief  of  only  a  few  feet. 

OlL-BEARING  Bed 

In  the  western  Illinois  oil  field  the  producing  stratum  is  a  sandstone, 
known  as  the  Hoing  sand,  which  is  locally  present  immediately  below  the 
Silurian  limestone  and  above  the  Maquoketa  shale.  Sandstone  is  not  known 
at  this  horizon  in  any  other  portion  of  Mississippi  Valley,  and  in  this  region 
it  is  not  a  persistent  bed  but  occurs  in  separated  areas,  the  general  direction 
and  extent  of  which  have  not  yet  been  determined.1  This  sandstone  appears 
never  to  have  been  laid  down  over  an  extensive  area,  for  many  of  the  wells 

’This  sand  was  probably  derived  from  the  deeply  weathered  residual  material  that  was  de¬ 
veloped  on  the  surface  of  the  Maquoketa  shale  during  the  long  period  of  land  conditions  that 
prevailed  in  this  region  between  the  end  of  the  Maquoketa  and  the  beginning  of  Niagaran  time. 
This  residual  mantle  was  worked  over,  and  the  sand  sorted  out  and  deposited  in  local  depressions 
by  the  Niagaran  sea  when  it  first  advanced  over  the  region. 


96 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


pass  from  the  Niagaran  limestone  (“second  lime”)  directly  into  the  Ma- 
quoketa  shale.  In  some  places  it  may  have  been  removed  by  erosion  before 
the  later  beds  were  deposited.  During  this  erosion  period  the  Silurian  strata 
were  in  some  places  entirely  removed,  so  that  the  Devonian  limestone  was 
deposited  upon  the  Maquoketa  shale. 


Relation  of  Accumulation  to  Folds  in  Oil-bearing  Beds 

In  most  of  the  productive  fields  of  Illinois,  as  in  Lawrence  and  Craw¬ 
ford  counties,  the  oil  occurs  in  the  upper  parts  of  anticlines  or  domes,  or  in 


Fig.  7. — Diagram  showing  significance  of  unconformities  in  the  Avon-Canton  region. 


terraces  on  the  sides  of  the  folds.  The  productive  oil  fields  of  Illinois  are 
surrounded  by  a  barren  area  in  which  the  wells  tap  salt  water.  This  is 
strong  evidence  that  the  water  is  an  important  factor  in  determining  where 
the  oil  will  accumulate  in  the  sand  stratum  after  it  has  been  more  or  less 
folded.  Where  the  sand  is  practically  saturated  with  water  (fig.  8,  A), 
the  oil  generally  occurs  near  the  crest  of  the  anticlines.  Where  the  sand  is 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  II 


ILLINOIS  S' 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  II 


KNOX  CO 


BQVNPARY 

LINE 


23T\Aaaa  [9  JJSj. 


•  Hi  n  iWi  >i  >.l 


CENTRAL 


.L/NO/S 


JbchloliL  St.-liool 1 


Maa-kl-y 
,  School 


Hippie  Scliuol. 


.SfRMONi 


School 


CANTOS' 


EAGLE  MINE i 


phool 


id  E  M  Bandi 


Contour  interval  20  feet. 

Datum  U  m«m  8«»  ZjmJ, 

Map  showing  structure  of  Canton  quadrangle 


S 

y 

<r7 

DESCRIPTION  OF  MAP 

The  heavy  black  lines  show  the  posi¬ 
tion  of  coal  No.  2  above  sea  level,  and  are 
to  be  considered  apart  from  the  fine 
black  lines  which  represent  the  surface 
of  the  region. 

The  reader  is  requested  to  imagine 
that  all  of  the  beds  are  removed  down 
to  the  surface  of  coal  No.  2,  and  that 


the  southeast  part  of  the  area  is  flooded 
by  water  which  stands  480  feet  above  sea 
level.  The  heavy  black  480-contour  line 
would  represent  the  shore-line  at  the  first 
stage,  but  if  the  level  of  the  water  were 
raised  by  20-foot  intervals  the  successive 
shore-lines  would  be  represented  in  turn 
by  the  higher  contour  lines.  Thus  the 
surface  of  the  coal  1  y2  miles  northwest 


of  Fairview  is  high  and  would  remain 
above  water  as  an  island  until  the  water 
level  was  raised  to  620  feet. 

The  general  dip  of  the  coal  and  under- 
lying  beds  is  toward  the  south  and  east, 
but  the  irregularities  represented  by  the 
curves  in  the  contours  may  best  be  under¬ 
stood  by  a  study  as  outlined  above  in 
connection  with  accompanying  text. 


SPECIAL  NOTICE 

It  is  impossible  to  predict  the  presence 
of  oil  in  any  given  area.  The  fact  that 
the  Hoing  oil  sand  is  present  at  only  a 
comparatively  few  places  adds  an  addi¬ 
tional  large  element  of  uncertainty  in  the 
western  counties  of  Illinois. 

Since  in  most  fields  the  oil  accumu¬ 
lates  where  the  sand  has  been  folded  up¬ 


ward  and  since  the  downward  folds  or 
synclines  are  usually  filled  with  salt 
water,  a  map  which  shows  the  position  of 
the  beds  previous  to  drilling  is  very  val¬ 
uable.  The  operator  can  then  confine 
his  tests  to  territory  where  accumulation 
would  take  place  if  the  other  conditions 
are  favorable.  Thus  one  element  of 
chance  is  eliminated. 


CANTON  AND  AVON  QUADRANGLES 


97 


only  partially  saturated  with  water  the  oil  is  found  farther  down  the  sides 
of  the  folds  (fig.  8,  B),  and  the  crests  may  be  dry.  If  no  water  is  present, 
the  oil  may  occur  in  the  troughs  or  synclines  (fig.  8,  C),  and  the  anticlines 
may  be  barren. 

In  western  Illinois  the  strata  have  a  gentle  eastward  dip,  and  the  struc¬ 
tural  features  consist  of  small  folds,  domes,  or  terraces  which  have  been 
developed  as  small  irregularities  or  interruptions  in  the  general  eastward 
slope,  the  crests  of  many  of  the  larger  anticlines  or  domes  being  only  20  or 
30  to  50  feet  high.  The  oil-bearing  sandstone  is  present  only  in  disconnected 
patches  or  separated  lenses  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that  the  oil  and  water 
in  the  sandstone  occur  in  different  places  at  so  different  elevations  as  to  pre¬ 
clude  the  possibility  of  any  connection  of  the  strata  between  them.  Under 
these  conditions  the  accumulation  may  progress  in  each  lens  independently, 
and  the  degree  of  saturation  by  oil  and  water  determines  whether  the  ac¬ 
cumulation  will  take  place  at  the  top  of  the  folds  or  in  terraces  lower  down 
or  in  the  troughs  or  lowest  parts  of  the  depressions. 

Localities  Already  Tested 

Although  not  drilled  in  search  of  oil,  deep-water  wells  test  the  strata 
for  oil  and  gas  accumulations  as  effectively  as  wells  drilled  especially  for 
oil.  In  Canton  three  deep  wells  put  down  for  a  water  supply  penetrated  to  a 
depth  600  to  700  feet  or  more  below  the  horizon  of  the  Hoing  sand  without 
finding  any  oil.  At  Cuba,  a  similar  well,  drilled  to  the  St.  Peter  sandstone, 
encountered  no  oil  or  gas.  Deep  wells  have  also  been  drilled  at  Bushnell 
and  at  Avon,  but  no  oil  or  gas  was  encountered.  In  a  deep  well  on  the  J.  E. 
Harris  farm  in  the  SW.  UJ  sec.  31,  T.  6  N.,  R.  1  E.,  about  three  miles  south 
of  the  Avon  quadrangle,  a  showing  of  oil  was  reported  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  Niagaran  limestone  at  depths  of  610  and  635  feet  respectively,  the  latter 
of  which  is  only  a  few  feet  above  the  horizon  of  the  Hoing  sand. 

Gas  in  Glacial  Drift 

Small  quantities  of  gas  have  been  reported  from  porous  beds  in  the 
glacial  drift  at  several  places  in  this  region.  In  a  water  well  near  the  north¬ 
east  corner  of  sec.  22,  T.  7  N.,  R.  2  E.,  gas  rises  in  bubbles  through  the 
water  every  few  minutes  in  such  quantities  that  it  can  be  ignited  with  a 
match.  In  the  well  drilled  on  the  farm  of  J.  E.  Harris,  the  log  of  which  has 
been  given  on  a  previous  page,  gas  was  encountered  in  beds  of  sand  and 
gravel  at  the  depths  of  58  and  72  feet  respectively,  in  such  quantity  as  to 
interfere  with  the  lights  in  the  drilling  rig.  Two  years  after  this  drilling 
was  made  gas  continued  to  rise  through  the  water  of  this  well  at  the  mouth 
of  which  it  could  be  readily  ignited.  Small  quantities  of  gas  have  been  re¬ 
ported  in  a  number  of  other  shallow  water  wells  in  this  region.  In  all  of 
these  cases  the  gas  was  doubtless  derived  from  the  decomposition  of  organic 


98 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


matter  that  was  buried  in  the  glacial  drift,  and  it  can  not  be  expected  to  occur 
in  such  quantity  as  to  be  commercially  important.  It  has  no  necessary  con¬ 
nection  with  oil  or  gas  accumulations  in  the  deeper  rock  strata,  nor  is  its 


Fig.  8. — Diagram  shewing  relation  of  oil  accumulation  to  geologic  structure. 

presence  in  the  beds  of  sand  and  gravel  of  Pleistocene  age  any  indication 
that  oil  or  gas  is  present  in  the  deeper  hard  rock  strata  of  the  region. 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  III 


■Sflpjc  School 


B\isLmbll 


9tT30'  *  1  w 

^  H  6  Marshall  Chief  Geographer. 
\V.  H  Herron,  Geographer  in  cherd 
Topography  by  Freni*  Tweedy  W.S. 
Control  by  C.L.Mc  Nair.  C.B,Kenda: 
C.R. French  and  W  S.Gehrea. 
Surveyed  in  1911  and  1913. 


EdWion  of  No> 


idea 


Contxrur  intei-v'al  20  feel 

HcBUan,  is  MM)*  >SCL  IstmZ 

Map  showing  structure  of  Avon  quadrangle 


r  - 

w 

^  •  iUlS 

t 

jL 

DESCRIPTION  OF  MAP 
The  heavy  black  lines  show  the  posi¬ 
tion  of  coal  No.  2  above  sea  level,  and 
arc  to  be  considered  apart  from  the  fine 
black  lines  which  represent  the  surface 
of  the  region. 

The  reader  is  requested  to  imagine 
that  all  of  the  beds  are  removed  down 


to  the  surface  of  coal  No.  2,  and  that 
the  southeast  comer  of  the  area  is  flooded 
by  water  which  stands  520  feet  above 
sea  level.  The  heavy  black  520-contour 
line  would  represent  the  shore-line  at  the 
first  stage,  but  if  the  level  of  the  water 
were  raised  by  20- foot  intervals  the  suc¬ 
cessive  shore-lines  would  be  represented 
in  turn  by  the  higher  contour  lines.  Thus 


the  surface  of  the  coal  one  mile  north 
of  Babylon  is  high  and  would  remain 
above  water  as  a  peninsula  until  the 
water  level  was  raised  to  620  feet. 

The  general  dip  of  the  coal  and  under- 
lying  beds  is  toward  the  southeast,  but 
the  irregularities  represented  by  the 
curves  in  the  contours  may  best  be  un¬ 
derstood  by  a  study  as  outlined  above. 


SPECIAL  NOTICE 
It  is  impossible  to  predict  the  presence 
of  oil  in  any  given  area.  The  fact  that 
the  Hoing  oil  sand  is  present  at  only  a 
comparatively  few  places  adds  an  addi¬ 
tional  large  element  of  uncertainty  in  the 
western  counties  of  Illinois. 

Since  in  most  fields  the  oil  accumu¬ 
lates  where  the  sand  has  been  folded  up¬ 


ward,  and  since  the  downward  folds  or 
synclines  are  usually  filled  with  salt 
water,  a  map  which  shows  the  position  of 
the  beds  previous  to  drilling  is  very  val¬ 
uable.  The  operator  can  then  confine 
his  tests  to  territory  where  accumulation 
would  take  place  if  the  other  conditions 
are  favorable.  Thus  one  element  of 
chance  is  eliminated. 


CANTON  AND  AVON  QUADRANGLES 


99 


Structure  of  Beds 

In  the  Colmar  region  farther  west,  the  oil  is  found  in  the  upper  part  of 
a  dome,  and  in  a  terrace  on  its  side.  Even  on  this  favorable  structure,  the 
sand  is  present  only  in  limited  areas.  Consequently,  any  recommendations 
for  test  borings  for  oil  in  the  Avon  and  Canton  area,  based  on  the  usual 
structure  features,  must  be  recognized  as  carrying  an  unusual  amount  of 
uncertainty.  However,  since  it  is  not  possible  to  tell  before  borings  are 
made  whether  the  Hoing  sand  is  present  or  to  what  extent  it  is  saturated 
with  water  in  any  particular  locality,  if  test  borings  are  to  be  made,  it 
would  seem  wise  to  proceed  first  on  the  usual  assumption  that  the  rocks 
will  be  thoroughly  saturated  with  water,  and  to  test  first  the  places  where 
the  structure  is  favorable,  as  the  highest  parts  of  the  anticlines  and  domes. 

From  the  structure  map  (PI.  II)  it  will  be  seen  that  a  broad  dome  is 
present  northwest  of  Fairview,  the  highest  point  of  which  is  in  the  NE. 
sec.  29,  and  the  SE.  sec.  20,  T.  8  N.,  R.  3  E.  Southwest  of  Farmington 
in  secs.  10  and  11,  T.  8  N.,  R.  4  E.,  there  is  a  low  arch  in  which  the  beds  are 
somewhat  higher  than  to  the  north  or  south. 

From  Fiatt  a  low  arch  extends  toward  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Can¬ 
ton  quadrangle.  The  axis  passes  about  one-half  mile  north  of  Jones  School, 
SYV.  cor.  sec.  27,  T.  7  N.,  R.  3  E.,  and  has  been  traced  southeast  to  the  cen¬ 
ter  of  sec.  10,  T.  6  N.,  R.  4  E. 

In  the  northwest  quarter  of  the  Avon  quadrangle  (PL  III),  a  low  anti¬ 
cline  in  present  in  the  SE.  sec.  14,  T.  8  N.,  R.  1  W.  The  beds  here  are 
somewhat  higher  than  to  the  west,  south,  and  east ;  but  no  outcrops  are  avail¬ 
able  toward  the  north,  and  the  dip  in  that  direction  is  uncertain.  One  mile 
north  of  Babylon  in  secs.  11  and  the  western  part  of  12,  T.  7  N.,  R.  1  E.. 
the  beds  are  higher  than  in  any  other  direction  except  northwest. 

In  a  few  places  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  the  Avon  quadrangle  irreg¬ 
ularities  of  small  extent  are  present,  but  no  places  particularly  favorable 
for  prospecting  might  be  mentioned. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  Survey  has  no  way  of  ascertaining  the 
presence  of  the  Hoing  sand  in  advance  of  drilling  and  that  the  accompany¬ 
ing  maps  are  published  in  the  hope  that  they  may  be  useful  in  case  drilling 
is  planned. 

The  structures  above  described  in  detail  are  comparatively  mild,  and 
may  or  may  not  reflect  identical  structures  in  the  deeply  buried  formations. 


NOTES  ON  BREMEN  ANTICLINE— 
RANDOLPH  COUNTY 

By  Fred  H.  Kay 

OUTLINE 

Page 


Introduction  .  101 

The  Bremen  anticline  .  101 

Second  well  recommended .  102 

Lack  of  other  folds .  103 

ILLUSTRATION 

FIGURE 

9.  Map  of  Bremen  anticline .  102 

Introduction 


The  Bremen  anticline  (fig.  9)  was  first  described  in  1915  by  Stuart 
Weller  in  Bulletin  31  of  the  Illinois  State  Geological  Survey.  Not  long 
after  its  publication  Kiskaddon  Brothers  of  Oklahoma  leased  considerable 
land  along  the  anticline  and  drilled  a  well  on  the  William  Winkleman  farm 
in  the  NE.  *4  SW.  Rj  sec.  23,  Bremen  Township.  Rock  outcrops  nearby 
show  that  the  well  was  located  a  short  distance  north  of  the  axis  of  the 
anticline.  Some  gas  was  found  but  a  large  quantity  of  salt  water  drowned 
out  the  flow  and  the  well  was  abandoned  at  a  depth  of  about  970  feet  in 
limestone  which  is  probably  the  upper  part  of  the  “Big  Lime.” 

A  number  of  citizens  living  in  the  vicinity  of  Chester  requested  an  ad¬ 
ditional  examination  of  the  outcrops  in  the  region  along  the  anticline  with 
a  view  to  locating  a  second  well  whose  position  might  be  somewhat  more 
favorable  than  that  of  the  former  well.  Prominent  among  those  specially 
interested  in  further  developing  the  anticline  are  Mr.  C.  E.  Kingsbury  and 
Mr.  William  Ebers,  both  of  Chester,  Illinois.  The  writer  wishes  to  ac¬ 
knowledge  his  indebtedness  to  these  two  gentlemen  for  kindly  cooperation 
and  for  personal  assistance  while  making  a  short  field  examination  upon 
which  this  report  is  based. 

The  Bremen  Anticline 

In  the  tributaries  on  the  eastern  side  of  Little  Mary’s  River  the  upper 
beds  belonging  to  the  Chester  group  of  formations  are  well  exposed.  The 
Palestine  sandstone  and  the  Clore  limestone  in  the  NW.  Rj  sec.  27,  Bremen 
Township,  show  a  distinct  dip  of  2  degrees  to  the  southeast.  The  strike  of 
these  beds  is  about  N.  70°  E.  The  beds  are  well  exposed  along  an  east-west 
stream  near  the  line  between  the  farms  of  IT.  Magers  and  H.  P.  Wilson. 
One-half  mile  north  of  the  outcrops  mentioned  immediately  above  is  another 
east-west  tributary  in  which  the  rocks  are  well  exposed.  Mere,  however, 
the  dip  is  to  the  northwest  and  is  much  steeper  than  that  of  the  beds  men¬ 
tioned  at  the  first  location.  Near  the  center  of  the  SW.  R[  sec.  22  a  north 

(101) 


!  02 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


dip  of  13  degrees  was  measured,  but  this  is  the  strongest  dip  noted  on  the 
north  side  of  the  fold.  Outcrops  are  plentiful  on  the  Henry  Heitman  farm 
varies  from  2  degrees  to  about  6  degrees.  The  south  side  of  the  anticline 
is  much  less  clearly  marked  than  the  north.  Slight  southeast  dips  were 
noted  in  the  SE.  34  NE.  34  sec.  27  on  the  Henry  Schnoeker  farm  and  also 
in  the  NE.  34  NW.  34  sec.  26.  The  dips  here  vary  from  1  to  2  degrees. 

It  was  found  impossible  to  trace  the  anticline  east  from  the  Kiskaddon 
well  near  the  center  of  sec.  23,  since  the  rocks  do  not  outcrop  in  the  critical 
territory.  In  the  SW.  34  sec.  19,  T.  6  S.,  R.  5  W.,  and  in  the  NW.  corner 
sec.  30,  of  the  same  township,  the  lowermost  rocks  of  the  coal  measures 
come  to  the  surface,  but  here  all  the  beds  lie  flat. 


R.  6  W. 


Arrows  show  direction  and  amount  of  dip.  Kiskaddon  well  indicated  by  black  circle.  Sug¬ 
gested  location  for  second  well  shown  by  shaded  area.  Crosses  indicate  outcrops  at  which  dip 
is  not  measurable. 


in  the  NE.  corner  of  the  SE.  34  sec.  22,  and  on  the  Frederick  Hogrefe 
farm  in  the  NE.  34  sec.  22.  The  dip  at  these  outcrops  is  to  the  north  and 

Second  Well  Recommended 

The  Survey  believes  that  the  Bremen  anticline  deserves  one  more  test 
which  should  be  located  as  near  as  possible  on  the  axis  of  the  fold.  It  is 
suggested  that  the  second  well  be  placed  near  the  southwest  end  of  the  fold 
where  the  dips  are  most  pronounced  and  where  the  axis  of  the  anticline  may 


NOTES  ON  BREMEN  ANTICLINE 


103 


be  closely  located.  A  well  in  the  shaded  area  as  shown  in  figure  9  would 
test  the  anticline  in  as  favorable  a  location  as  can  be  selected.  It  is  thought 
that  the  well  need  not  be  more  than  700  feet  deep  to  test  the  entire  thick¬ 
ness  of  the  Chester  beds  and  to  penetrate  enough  of  the  Ste.  Genevieve 
limestone  to  determine  its  possibilities. 

Lack  of  Other  Folds 

An  examination  was  made  to  determine  the  presence  of  any  other  anti¬ 
clines  in  the  vicinity,  but  the  outcrops  failed  to  disclose  any  favorable 
structure  except  the  Bremen  anticline.  Field  work  was  confined  to  the 
SE.  Ft  of  T.  6  S.,  R.  6  W.,  and  to  secs.  19  and  30  of  T.  6  S.,  R.  5  W. 


, 


* 


. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 

By  John  L.  Rich 

(In  cooperation  with  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey) 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction  .  106 

Purpose  and  scope  of  report .  106 

Acknowledgments  .  107 

Physiography  .  107 

Geology  .  108 

Unconsolidated  rocks  .  108 

Consolidated  rocks  .  109 

General  section  .  109 

Mississippian  series  .  109 

St.  Louis  and  Ste.  Genevieve  formations .  109 

Chester  group  .  114 

Pennsylvanian  series  .  115 

Pottsville  formation  .  115 

Carbondale  formation  .  116 

McLeansboro  formation  .  116 

Gas  . . .  116 

Horizons  for  oil  and  gas .  116 

Shallow  gas  sands .  117 

Robinson  gas  sand .  118 

Canaan  gas  pool .  118 

Heathsville  gas  pool .  119 

Minor  gas  pools .  119 

Oil  in  Robinson  sand .  119 

Description  of  pools .  120 

Parker  pool  .  120 

General  description  .  120 

Description  of  oil  sand .  120 

Position  of  oil  in  sand .  121 

Water  conditions  .  121 

Structure  .  122 

Birds  pool  .  122 

General  description  .  122 

Description  of  oil  sand .  122 

Flat  Rock  pool .  124 

New  Hebron  pool .  126 

Jackson  pool  .  127 

Weger  pool  .  128 

Minor  pools  .  129 

Allison  pool  .  129 

Chapman  pool  .  129 

Swearingen  pool  .  130 


(105) 


106 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Relation  of  pools  in  Robinson  sand .  130 

Mode  of  origin  of  Robinson  sand .  131 

Prospects  of  further  oil  development  in  Robinson  sand .  138 

Character  of  oil  .  139 

Salt  water  phenomena .  140 

Relation  of  water  conditions  to  origin  of  oil .  142 

Deep  wells  .  142 

Locations  .  142 

Structure  of  lower  beds .  144 

Oil  possibilities  of  lower  beds .  145 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PLATE 


IV.  Map  of  Birds  quadrangle,  showing  oil  field .  118 

V.  Profile  sections  of  Robinson  sand .  120 

VI.  Stereogram  showing  characteristics  of  oil  sand .  132 

VII.  Map  showing  drill  holes  to  Robinson  sand .  138 

FIGURE 

10.  Diagrammatic  cross-section  of  sand-bar  deposits .  134 

11.  Map  of  Barnegat  Inlet  and  Bay .  135 

12.  Contour  map  showing  surface  form  of  portion  of  Birds  pool  sand .  135 

13.  Map  showing  wells  which  penetrate  Mississippian  rocks .  143 


INTRODUCTION 
Purpose  and  Scope  of  Report 

This  report  deals  with  the  occurrence  of  oil  and  gas  within  the  Birds 
quadrangle,  which  includes  the  eastern  part  of  the  main  Illinois  oil  field 
in  southern  Crawford  and  northern  Lawrence  counties.  The  field  work  was 
done  during  the  summer  of  1915  in  cooperation  with  the  United  States  Geol¬ 
ogical  Survey,  and  the  results  will  appear  in  briefer  form  in  the  Hardin- 
ville-Birds  folio  now  in  preparation  by  the  United  States  Geological  Survey. 
But  since  the  folio  text  must  necessarily  be  brief  and  there  is  likely  to  be 
considerable  delay  in  its  publication,  the  State  Geological  Survey  has  deemed 
it  advisable  to  prepare  for  immediate  issue  this  bulletin  in  which  a  full  ac¬ 
count  of  the  results  of  the  investigation  is  presented.  The  report  deals  only 
with  the  area  included  in  the  birds  quadrangle  which  lies  between  longitude 
87°30'  and  87°45'  and  latitude  38°45'  and  39°. 

For  an  oil  field  like  that  of  the  Birds  quadrangle  where  the  productive 
territory  has  been  fairly  well  outlined,  it  is  the  principal  function  of  an  oil 
report  to  present  a  description  of  the  conditions  under  which  the  oil  occurs ; 
a  discussion  of  the  structures  responsible  for  the  oil  accumulation ;  and  any 
facts  which  throw  light  on  the  problem  of  the  origin  of  the  oil  or  on  the 
laws  which  have  governed  its  accumulation,  or  that  may  be  of  value  in  guid¬ 
ing  future  explorations  in  this  or  other  regions  where  the  geological  condi¬ 
tions  are  similar.  The  report  is  intended  primarily  as  a  contribution  to  the 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BTRDS  QUADRANGLE  107 

geological  theory  of  the  origin  and  mode  of  occurrence  of  oil  in  the  Pennsyl¬ 
vanian  rocks  of  Illinois. 

In  the  field  each  well,  whether  producing  or  dry,  was  located,  and  the 
elevation  at  its  mouth  ascertained.  For  the  greater  part  of  the  area,  includ¬ 
ing  that  part  in  which  the  wells  are  closely  spaced,  the  locations  and  eleva¬ 
tions  were  determined  by  means  of  a  plane  table  and  telescopic  alidade,  and 
the  work  was  done  with  great  accuracy.  Scattered  wells  and  dry  holes 
were  located  by  pacing  from  road  corners  and  other  points  which  could  be 
identified  on  the  contour  map,  and  their  elevations  were  determined  by 
hand  level.  The  wells  in  sec.  15,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.,  (Honey  Creek  Town¬ 
ship),  and  many  of  those  in  sections  9,  10,  and  16  of  the  same  township 
were  located,  and  their  elevations  determined  in  previous  years  by  Mr.  R. 
S.  Blatchley  of  the  State  Geological  Survey. 

Acknowledgments 

Special  acknowledgement  is  due  to  Mr.  W.  S.  Nelson  of  the  State  Geol¬ 
ogical  Survey,  to  whom  was  intrusted  the  plane  table  work  and  the  draft¬ 
ing  of  the  accompanying  maps,  and  to  Messrs.  E.  F.  Rehnquist  and  John 
Hazlett  Bell  for  able  cooperation  as  rodmen.  Grateful  acknowledgment 
is  here  made  to  one  and  all  of  the  numerous  oil  companies  and  individual 
operators  who  furnished  logs  of  the  wells,  without  which  no  detailed  study 
of  the  field  could  have  been  made.  To  Professor  T.  E.  Savage  and  Mr. 
F.  H.  Kay  of  the  State  Geological  Survey,  with  whom  the  writer  has  coun¬ 
seled  freely  in  connection  with  the  preparation  of  the  report,  acknowledg¬ 
ment  is  also  due. 


PHYSIOGRAPHY 

The  broad  Hood  plains  and  terraces  of  Wabash  and  Embarrass  rivers 
occupy  respectively  the  eastern  and  southern  portions  of  the  quadrangle. 
The  remainder  of  the  area,  except  for  about  20  square  miles  of  low,  gently 
rolling  topography  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  quadrangle,  south  and 
east  of  Robinson,  and  a  strip  of  lowland  along  Brushy  Creek  from  one  to 
two  miles  wide  extending  south  past  the  villages  of  Flat  Rock,  Birds,  and 
Pinkstafif  to  the  Embarrass  flats,  is  a  maturely  stream-dissected  upland 
divided  by  the  lowland  of  Brushy  Creek  into  an  eastern  and  a  western 
section.  Hie  upland  lias  a  relief  of  100  to  150  feet. 

The  Wabash  and  Embarrass  flood  plains  and  terraces  range  in  eleva¬ 
tion  between  415  and  445  feet  above  sea  level.  They  determine  the  base 
level  to  which  all  the  secondary  streams  have  graded  their  flood  plains. 
The  terraces  are  sandy  and  gravelly  and  lie  in  general  above  the  level  of 
high  water.  The  low  flood  plains,  however,  are  covered  by  water  at  times 
of  flood  and  are  frequently  more  or  less  swampy  for  long  periods.  Roads 
on  low  flood  plains,  unless  properly  graded,  are  almost  impassable  for 


108 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


long-  periods  after  high  water.  Terrace  roads  as  a  rule  are  good  at  all 
seasons.  The  low,  alluvium-filled  valley  of  Brushy  Creek  is  poorly  drained 
(except  near  the  drainage  ditch),  and  its  roads  are  frequently  bad  after 
wet  weather. 

The  uplands  in  general  are  very  rough,  the  western  more  so  than  the 
eastern,  since  it  is  higher  and  more  sharply  cut  by  the  streams.  The  high¬ 
est  point  in  the  quadrangle,  645  feet,  is  in  this  western  upland.  The  up¬ 
land  roads  are  prevailingly  rough,  though  in  wet  weather  they  are  more 
passable  than  those  on  the  undrained  flats.  The  prevailing  system  of  lay¬ 
ing  out  the  roads  on  the  section  lines  in  defiance  of  local  topographv  is 
to  a  considerable  extent  responsible  for  their  roughness,  since  many  of 
the  hills  might  have  been  avoided  had  the  roads  been  located  in  harmony 
with  the  topography.  On  the  steep  hills  the  roads  wash  badly. 

GEOLOGY 

Unconsolidated  Rocks 

Glacial  drift,  alluvium,  loess,  and  wind-blown  sand,  named  in  order 
from  the  older  to  the  younger,  constitute  the  unconsolidated  mantle  rocks 
of  the  region.  The  drift  is  pebbly  bowlder  clay  (till)  with  some  gravel 
and  sand.  Where  fresh  it  is  blue,  but  it  is  commonly  oxidized  to  a  yellow 
color  for  ten  feet  or  more  below  the  surface.  It  varies  in  thickness  from 
a  few  inches  to  about  100  feet.  In  general  it  is  thickest  in  the  valleys  and 
thinner  on  the  hill  tops. 

The  alluvium  overlies  the  drift  in  all  the  stream  valleys,  but  its  great¬ 
est  development  is  along  Wabash  and  Embarrass  rivers,  where  it  constitutes 
the  extended  flood  plain  and  terraces  above  described.  Along  Wabash 
and  Embarrass  rivers  the  terraces  are  mainly  gravel,  but  the  low  flood 
plains,  at  least  at  the  top,  consist  mainly  of  clay  loam,  sand,  or  fine  gravel. 
The  maximum  depth  of  alluvium  in  the  Wabash  valley  is  not  known,  but 
a  well  in  the  SW.  cor.  sec.  20,  T.  4  N.,  R.  10  W.,  passed  through  102 
feet  of  gravel  and  quicksand  before  reaching  bed  rock.  Two  borings  on 
the  low  flood  plain  of  the  Embarrass,  one  in  the  SE.  *4  SW.  54  sec.  22,  T. 
4  N.,  R.  12  W.,  and  another  in  the  NE.  sec.  25,  struck  rock  at  50  feet. 
Numerous  borings  to  the  west  and  south  of  the  quadrangle  reveal  from 
75  to  90  feet  of  alluvium. 

The  loess,  a  fine  wind-blown  dust,  forms  a  mantle  from  two  to  ten 
or  more  feet  in  thickness  everywhere  over  the  uplands  except  where  the 
slopes  are  so  steep  that  it  has  been  eroded  away.  Along  the  bluffs  of 
Wabash  and  Embarrass  rivers  the  loess  is  locally  much  thicker. 

Wind-blown  sand  occurs  abundantly  on  the  river  terraces  and  on  the 
bluffs  bordering  them.  It  commonly  forms  low,  irregular,  dune-shaped 
mounds,  but  along  the  river  bluffs  sand  hills  of  considerable  size  are  found. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


109 


Consolidated  Rocks 

GENERAL  SECTION 


The  rocks  beneath  the  drift  clown  to  the  greatest  depth  penetrated  by 
the  wells  belong  to  the  Mississippian  and  the  Pennsylvanian  series  of  the 
Paleozoic  system.  A  generalized  geologic  column  for  this  part  of  the 
State  is  presented  in  tabular  form  below  : 


r 


McLeansboro 


Shales  and  sandstones  containing  thin  limestones 
and  coal  beds.  Includes  all  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks 
-  above  the  top  of  No.  6  (Herrin)  coal.  Thickness, 
500-700  ft.  in  Birds  quadrangle;  entire  thickness 
not  represented. 


Pennsylvanian 


- 


Carbondale 


Pottsville 


Shales,  sandstones,  thin  limestones  and  important 
coal  beds.  This  formation  includes  all  the  rocks 
from  the  top  of  No.  6  (Herrin)  coal  to  the  bot¬ 
tom  of  No.  2  (Murphysboro)  coal.  Thickness,  300- 
350  feet. 

Sandstones  and  gray  and  black  shales ;  thick  sand- 
-  stone  beds  dominate;  few  thin  beds  of  coal.  Thick¬ 
ness,  500-600  feet. 


Mississippian 


Chester 


Limestones,  shales,  and  sandstones ;  some  red  shales. 
Thickness,  approximately  300  feet. 


-  Ste.  Genevieve  {Limestone,  in  part  oolitic.  Thickness  about  85  feet. 

St.  Louis  and  Mainly  dense  blue  or  gray  limestones ;  thin  sand 
Salem  beds.  Thickness,  300  feet  and  over. 


MISSISSIPPIAN  SERIES 

The  data  on  the  rocks  of  the  Mississippian  series  are  very  meager. 
On  the  map,  figure  13,  are  shown  all  the  wells  which  are  known  to  have 
penetrated  these  rocks. 

ST.  LOUIS  AND  STE.  GENEVIEVE  FORMATIONS 

These  formations  can  not  be  separated  from  each  other  in  well  records. 
The  wSte.  Genevieve  is  a  soft,  partly  oolitic  limestone  about  85  feet  thick. 
It  grades  downward  into  the  St.  Louis  limestone,  which  is  light  blue  and 
hard.  The  thickness  of  the  St.  Louis  limestone  in  this  area  is  not  known 
because  no  wells  within  the  quadrangle  are  known  to  have  passed  entire¬ 
ly  through  it.  The  character  of  the  formation  is  well  represented  in  the 
following  logs  of  the  Wash  Parker  and  Lagow  wells. 


110 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Log f  of  IV.  A.  Lagow  well,  NE.  *4  NE.  l/\  sec.  31,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W. 

(Elevation  436  feet) 


Description  of  strata 

Soil  and  gravel . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand . 

Lime . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  (water)  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  (water)  . 

Sand  (water)  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  (water)  . 

Sand  (water)  . 

Lime  . 

Black  slate  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Sand  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Yellow  lime  . 

Lime,  white  . 

Sand  (water)  . 


Thickness 

Depth 

Feet 

Feet 

20 

20 

80 

100 

20 

120 

20 

140 

40 

180 

5 

185 

7 

192 

13 

205 

5 

210 

.  104 

314 

36 

350 

3 

353 

2 

355 

.  170 

525 

25 

550 

65 

615 

3 

618 

42 

660 

50 

710 

19 

729 

2 

731 

11 

742 

10 

752 

10 

762 

18 

780 

10 

790 

35 

825 

8 

833 

2 

835 

85 

920 

30 

950 

60 

1010 

18 

1028 

7 

1035 

22 

1057 

22 

1079 

11 

1090 

20 

1110 

70 

1180 

30 

1210 

12 

1222 

47 

1269 

3 

1272 

43 

1315 

53 

1368 

32 

1400 

70 

1470 

OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


111 


Thickness 


Description  of  strata  Feet 

Lime  .  15 

Red  rock  .  3 

'‘Slate,”  white  .  5 

Lime  .  77 

“Slate,”  black  .  18 

Lime,  hard  .  3 

Lime,  soft  .  7 

Sand,  oil,  and  water  .  3 

Lime  .  10 

Lime,  soft,  sandy  .  10 

Limestone  .  155 


Depth 

Feet 

1485 

1488 

1493 

1570 

1588 

1591 

1598 

1601 

1611 

1621 

1776 


tThe  base  of  the  Pottsville  formation  cannot  be  recognized  with  certainty  from  this  log. 
The  top  of  the  Ste.  Genevieve  formation  (“Big  Lime”)  is  believed  to  he  at  1,493  feet. 


Log *  of  Wash  Parker  well  No.  7,  SW.  %  sec.  3,  T.  5  N., 
R.  12  W.,  Honey  Creek  Township 

(Elevation  555  feet) 


Water  at  . 

“Slate”  . 

Water  at  . 

“Slate”  . 

Coal  . 

“Slate”  . 

Hard  shell 

Show  gas  . 

Shells  and  lime 

“Slate”  . 

Hard  shell  .... 

Coal  . 

“Slate”  . 

Shell  . 

“Slate”  . 

Water  sand  . .  . 

“Slate”  . 

Gas,  good  show 

“Slate”  . 

Shell  . 

“Slate”  . 

Stray  oil  sand 
Water  sand  . . . 

“Slate”  . 

Parker  oil  sand 

Shell  . 

Water  sand  . . . 

“Slate”  . 

Water  sand  . . . 

Shell  . 

Water  sand  . . . 

“Slate”  . 

Water  sand  ... 


•  •  • 

73 

67 

140 

•  •  • 

280 

170 

450 

6 

456 

24 

480 

•  •  • 

480 

10 

500 

50 

550 

50 

600 

•  •  • 

600 

•  •  • 

612 

58 

670 

5 

675 

107 

782 

16 

798 

34 

832 

13 

845 

52 

897 

5 

902 

44 

946 

7 

953 

90 

1043 

7 

1050 

5 

1055 

•  •  • 

1075 

61 

1136 

4 

1140 

88 

1228 

8 

1236 

94 

1330 

20 

1350 

50 

1400 

112 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Description  of  strata 

Hole  full  of  water  . 

Hard  shell  and  lime  . 

Lime  and  dry  sand  . 

Gas  sand  . , 

Oil,  show  of  . 

Hard  lime  and  dry  . 

Water  at  . 

Water  enough  to  drill  with  at. 

Lime,  hard  and  dry . 

Too  much  water  to  carry  at. .  , 
Hole  full  and  running  over  at. 

Sand  and  slate  to . . 

Limestone  . 

Limestone  . 

Water  at  . 

Water  sand  . 

Water  increased  . 

Limestone  . 


at  approximately  1,595  feet. 


(Elevation  415  feet) 


Surface  . 

Quicksand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Quicksand  . 

Red  rock  . . 

Quicksand  . . 

“Slate”  . 

“Slate” . 

Sand  . . 

Coal  . 

“Slate”  . 

Limestone  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . . 

“Slate”  . 

“Slate”  and  shells 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Red  rock  . . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Coal  . 

“Slate”  and  shells, 
“Slate”,  black  .... 
Lime  . 


Thickness 

Depth 

Feet 

Feet 

60 

1460 

8 

1468 

75 

1543 

17 

1560 

5 

1565 

15 

1580 

.  •  •  •  • 

1582 

•  •  •  •  • 

1595 

40 

2035 

>  •  •  •  • 

2035 

>  •  •  •  • 

2055 

>  •  •  •  • 

2100 

95 

2195 

25 

2220 

•  •  •  •  • 

2220 

30 

2250 

,  s  •  •  • 

2250 

29 

2279 

base  of  the  Pottsville  forma- 

Ste.  Genevieve  (“ 

'Big  Lime”) 

,  T.  4  N.,  R.  12 

w. 

15 

15 

35 

50 

7 

57 

13 

70 

5 

75 

38 

113 

17 

130 

30 

160 

70 

230 

5 

235 

5 

240 

5 

245 

30 

275 

15 

290 

10 

300 

30 

330 

15 

345 

5 

350 

3 

353 

12 

365 

10 

375 

80 

455 

3 

458 

27 

485 

25 

510 

20 

530 

OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


113 


Description  of  strata 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  and  shells  . 

Coal  . 

“Slate”  and  shells . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

“Slate”  and  shells  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  and  shells . 

“Slate”,  black  . 

Lime  and  shells  . 

Bridgeport  sand  . 

Water  sand  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  and  shells . 

Sand  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Hard  lime  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

“Slate”  and  shells  . 

Lime  . 

Water  sand  . 

Hard  lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Sand  shells  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . 

Lime  . 

Lime  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Water  sand  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Water  sand  . 


Thickness 

Depth 

Feet 

Feet 

.  125 

655 

5 

660 

40 

700 

55 

755 

5 

760 

55 

815 

30 

845 

35 

880 

45 

925 

30 

955 

65 

1020 

10 

1030 

10 

1040 

15 

1055 

15 

1070 

5 

1075 

5 

1080 

20 

1100 

10 

1110 

15 

1125 

35 

1160 

10 

1170 

5 

1175 

73 

1248 

4 

1252 

5 

1257 

8 

1265 

5 

1270 

7 

1277 

13 

1290 

25 

1315 

5 

1320 

15 

1335 

70 

1405 

44 

1449 

'j 

0 

1452 

8 

1460 

45 

1505 

20 

1525 

10 

1535 

20 

1555 

23 

1578 

7 

1585 

5 

1590' 

10 

1600 

35 

1635 

25 

1660 

4 

1664 

16 

1680 

10 

1690' 

114 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Description  of  strata 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Lime,  shells,  and  “slate” 

Hard  lime  . 

Gritty  lime  . 

Red  rock  . 

“Slate”  and  shells  . 

Lime  . 

Red  rock  . 

“Slate”  and  shells  . 

Sand,  water  . 


Thickness 

Depth 

Feet 

Feet 

5 

1695 

17 

1712 

13 

1725 

10 

1735 

5 

1740 

36 

1776 

4 

1780 

14 

1794 

6 

1800 

28 

1828 

7 

1835 

5 

1840 

50 

1890 

2 

1892 

jin  this  log  the  base  of  the  Pottsville  formation  cannot  be  identified  with  certainty. 
The  two  beds  of  red  shale  at  1,794  and  1,835  feet  are  interpreted  to  be  those  normally  lying  above 
the  Kirkwood  sand,  which  is,  therefore,  thought  to  be  the  sand  at  the  bottom  of  the  well.  The 
“big  lime”  was  not  reached.  The  thickness  of  Chester  rocks  revealed  by  this  well  appears  to 
be  several  hundred  feet  greater  than  in  the  Parker  or  Lagow  wells. 


In  the  Lagow  well,  NE.  ^4  NE.  sec.  31.  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W.,  green 
oil,  probably  equivalent  to  the  McClosky  oil  of  the  main  field  of  Law¬ 
rence  County,  was  struck  at  a  depth  of  1,598  feet,  or  1,162  feet  below  sea 
level  and  338  feet  above  a  datum  plane  1,500  feet  below  the  sea.1  The 
yield  was  small,  and  the  well  was  abandoned. 

Oil  at  approximately  the  same  horizon  was  struck  in  the  W.  O.  Pink- 
staff  well,  in  the  NW.  %  sec.  8,  T.  4  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Bond  Township),  1,700 
feet  below  the  surface  or  238  feet  above  datum.  The  amount  was  too 
small  to  be  of  value.  In  a  deep  well  on  the  S.  J.  Parker  farm  (Parker 
well  No.  2),  sec.  28,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.,  a  few  hundred  yards  west  of  the 
limits  of  the  quadrangle,  a  showing  of  "green’'  oil  was  found  in  the  hard 
and  soft  limestone  at  a  depth  of  2,029  feet,  or  23  feet  below  datum.  This 
is  doubtless  from  a  lower  horizon  than  is  the  oil  in  the  other  wells. 

The  log  of  a  deep  well  on  the  W.  T.  Highsmith  farm,  NW.  Ct  sec. 
14,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.,  from  which  samples  were  studied  by  Udden2,  shows 
limestone  corresponding  in  character  to  the  Ste.  Genevieve  limestone  from 
a  depth  of  1,575  feet  to  1,655  feet,  and  to  the  St.  Louis  limestone  from 
1,655  feet  to  the  bottom  of  the  hole  at  1,940  feet.  A  showing  of  oil  was 
reported  at  1,580  feet. 


CHESTER  GROUP 

The  rocks  of  the  Chester  group  consist  of  alternating  beds  of  lime¬ 
stone,  shale,  and  sandstone  of  moderate  thickness.  One  or  more  beds 


lOn  following  pages  all  elevations  unless  otherwise  stated  will  refer  to  height  above  an 
assumed  datum  plane  1,500  feet  below  sea  level.  Confusion  owing  to  the  variable  elevation  ol 
the  ground  at  the  mouths  of  the  wells  is  thereby  avoided,  and  direct  comparisons  of  the  rela¬ 
tive  elevations  of  the  strata  described  can  be  made. 

2TJdden,  J.  A.,  Some  deep  borings  in  Illinois:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  24,  pp.  113-114, 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


115 


of  red  shale  (“red  rock”)  are  found  in  the  lower  part  of  the  forma¬ 
tion.  The  Chester  series  may  be  distinguished  from  those  of  the  over- 
lying  Pennsylvanian  series  by  its  characteristic  composition  of  nearly  50 
per  cent  of  limestone  and  roughly  25  per  cent  of  sandstone ;  whereas  the 
rocks  of  the  basal  part  of  the  Pennsylvanian  are  mainly  sandstone. 

Wells  in  the  southwest  corner  of  the  quadrangle  penetrate  250  to 
400  feet  of  Chester  rocks  3,  as  is  shown  by  the  log  of  the  Robinson  well, 
sec.  25,  T.  4  N.,  R.  12  W.  Elsewhere  in  the  quadrangle,  where,  as  will 
be  shown,  all  the  formation  lie  300  to  400  feet  higher  than  in  the  south¬ 
west  corner,  only  the  basal  part  of  the  Chester  seems  to  be  represented. 
The  upper  part  seems  to  have  been  eroded  away  before  the  Pennsylvanian 
rocks  were  deposited. 

The  Chester  rocks  in  the  Birds  quadrangle  have  not  been  found  prod¬ 
uctive  of  either  oil  or  gas,  though  traces  of  both  have  been  reported  from 
several  of  the  deep  wells.  It  is  probable  that  over  all  the  quadrangle  ex¬ 
cept  the  southwestern  corner  the  Kirkwood  sand,  elsewhere  the  most  pro¬ 
lific  oil-bearing  horizon  of  the  Chester,  has  been  eroded. 

PENNSYLVANIAN  SERIES 

The  Pennsylvanian  series  in  this  region  is  represented  by  three  forma¬ 
tions.  Named  in  order  from  the  bottom  up  they  are  the  Pottsville,  the 
Carbondale,  and  the  McLeansboro  formations,  the  latter  constituting  the 
surface  rocks. 


POTTSVILLE  FORMATION 

The  Pottsville  formation  lies  at  the  base  of  the  Pennsylvanian  series. 
As  revealed  by  the  wells,  it  is  550  to  575  feet  thick.  Its  base,  which  is 
reached  in  only  a  few  wells,  lies  about  1,500  feet  below  the  surface,  or 
more  exactly  573  feet  above  datum  in  the  S.  J.  Parker  well  No.  2,  in 
the  SW.  %.  sec.  28,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W. ;  595  feet  in  the  Wash  Parker 
well  No.  7,  SW.  cor.  NE.  p)  sec.  3,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W. ;  and  698  feet  (or 
possibly  608  feet  depending  on  the  uncertain  correlation)  in  the  W.  O. 
Pinkstafif  well  in  the  center  of  the  NW.  pj  sec.  8,  T.  4  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Bond 
Township).  The  formation  is  prevailingly  sandy  but  contains  numer¬ 
ous  beds  of  shale  and  some  thin  limestones  and  lenses  and  stringers  of 
coal. 

The  Robinson  sand,  the  most  important  oil-producing  sand  in  the 
quadrangle,  lies  in  the  Pottsville  formation  450  to  475  feet  above  its  base 
and,  it  is  thought,  50  to  100  feet  below  its  top.  The  latter  boundary  of 
the  formation,  however,  is  not  easily  distinguished.  The  gas  sands  oc- 

•lOn  account  of  the  impossibility  of  distinguishing,  in  the  well  records  available,  the  exact 
boundary  between  the  Chester  and  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks,  the  exact  thickness  of  the  Chester 
is  not  known. 


116 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


curring  within  the  first  100  feet  above  the  Robinson  sand  are  thought  to 
be  near  the  top  of  the  Pottsville. 

Below  the  Robinson  sand,  the  sandstones  of  the  Pottsville  are  as  a 
rule  filled  with  salt  water. 


CARBONDALE  FORMATION 

The  Carbondale  formation  is  300  to  350  feet  thick.  Roughly,  it  ex¬ 
tends  from  sea  level  to  300  feet  below  the  sea,  or  from  1,500  to  1,200  feet 
above  a  datum  plane  1,500  feet  below  sea  level.  In  composition  the  Car¬ 
bondale  formation  does  not  differ  essentially  from  the  next  higher  forma¬ 
tion  except  that  it  is  richer  in  coal  beds.  The  shallow7  gas  sand  described 
on  following  pages  lies  near  the  middle  of  this  formation. 

Coal  No.  6,  which  marks  the  top  of  the  Carbondale,  was  found  in 
wrell  No.  9  on  the  C.  T.  Cochran  farm4  in  the  NE.  cor.  SW.  34  sec.  21, 
T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Montgomery  Township),  to  lie  40  feet  below  sea  level 
or  563  feet  below  the  surface.  In  other  wells  in  this  and  adjoining  quad¬ 
rangles,  this  coal  lies  very  near  sea  level ;  in  some  slightly  above,  in  others 
below.  The  general  accordance  of  the  levels  at  which  the  coal  was 
found  indicates  that  the  Pennsylvanian  rocks  of  the  region  have  never 
been  greatly  deformed. 


MCLEANSBORO  FORMATION 

The  rocks  which  outcrop  at  the  surface  are  light  and  dark-gray  shales 
and  yellow  and  white  sandstones  containing  an  occasional  thin  bed  of 
limestone  or  coal.  They  belong  to  the  McLeansboro  formation  approxi¬ 
mately  500  feet  above  its  base.  The  surface  rocks  are  very  flat  over  the 
entire  quadrangle. 

Below  the  surface,  the  McLeansboro  formation,  as  revealed  in  the 
logs  of  the  wells,  is  composed  mainly  of  gray,  micaceous,  sandy  shale. 
There  are  also  thin  beds  of  black,  carbonaceous  shale,  limestone,  and  sand¬ 
stone.  In  the  lower  250  feet  of  the  formation  one  or  more  thin  coal 
beds  are  found. 


GAS 

Horizons  for  Oil  and  Gas 

Oil  and  gas  is,  or  has  been,  produced  in  commercial  quantities  from 
several  sand  horizons  at  levels  ranging  from  1,565  feet  down  to  1.023  feet 
above  a  datum  plane  1,500  feet  below'  sea  level.  This  represents  435  feet 
to  1,100  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  ground.  The  principal  productive 
horizons  fall  into  three  groups:  (1)  shallow'  gas  sands  at  1,400  feet, 
more  or  less,  above  datum,  or  about  650  feet  below  the  surface;  (2)  inter¬ 
mediate  gas  sands  at  1,100  to  1,300  feet;  and  (3)  the  Robinson  oil  and 


4Udden,  J.  A.,  Some  deep  borings  in  Illinois:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  24,  p.  117,  1914. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


117 


gas  sand,  which  lies  at  elevations  ranging  between  1,030  and  1,100  feet 
above  datum.  Of  these  by  far  the  most  important,  and  practically  the 
only  one  from  which  oil  is  produced,  is  the  Robinson  sand.  This  sand 
receives  its  name  from  the  fact  that  it  is  the  productive  sand  in  the  pool 
northwest  of  the  city  of  Robinson,  the  first  important  oil  pool  to  be  devel¬ 
oped  in  this  vicinity.5  Almost  all  the  shallow  wells  in  Crawford  County 
obtain  their  oil  from  this  horizon. 

The  Robinson  sand  lies  near  the  top  of  the  Pottsville  formation  of 
the  Pennsylvanian  series.  It  is  encountered  in  the  wells  at  depths  varying 
from  850  to  over  1,100  feet,  depending  on  the  elevation  of  the  surface  of 
the  ground  and  on  the  level  of  the  sand  with  respect  to  the  sea. 

Shallow  Gas  Sands 

The  highest  productive  horizon  is  found  in  the  SE.  )4  sec.  2  and 
the  SW.  34  sec.  C  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township),  where 
in  at  least  two  wells  gas  is  produced  from  a  sand  at  1,550  feet  above  datum. 
In  five  other  wells  sand,  some  of  which  contained  gas,  was  reported  at 
this  level,  but  the  principal  supply  of  gas  came  from  deeper  sands  (PI.  IV). 
This  gas  horizon  is  very  close  to  coal  No.  6. 

The  most  widespread  productive  bed  of  the  higher  sands  is  a  gas 
sand  found  over  a  large  part  of  the  northern  and  western  portions  of 
the  quadrangles  at  about  1,400  feet  above  datum.  From  its  average  depth 
below  the  surface  this  sand  is  known  locally  as  the  650-foot  gas  sand. 
The  largest  and  most  important  area  from  which  it  has  yielded  gas  in¬ 
cludes  the  greater  part  of  secs.  35  and  36,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek 
Township),  and  adjacent  portions  of  the  surrounding  sections.  Owing 
to  the  short  life  of  the  wells  this  gas  field  has  been  considered  to  be 
nearly  exhausted.  It  is  only  since  November,  1914,  that  the  discovery  of 
oil  in  the  Chapman  pool,  sec.  3,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Town¬ 
ship),  has  attracted  attention  to  this  portion  of  the  field  and  has  led 
to  deeper  drilling.  All  but  a  few  of  the  original  gas  wells  in  this  vicinity 
are  now  abandoned. 

During  the  period  from  1910  to  1912  a  small  gas  field  was  developed 
near  the  village  of  Duncanville  in  sec.  24,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey 
Creek  Township).  This  proved  short-lived  and  most  of  the  wells  were 
abandoned  within  a  year.  None  are  now  in  operation.  The  gas  was 
obtained  from  the  shallow  sand  at  about  1,400  feet  above  datum.  Since 
the  wells  penetrated  only  a  few  feet  into  the  sand,  its  thickness  is  un¬ 
known. 

Near  the  center  of  sec.  18,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Lamotte  Township), 
three  or  four  gas  wells,  two  of  which  are  now  abandoned,  obtained  their 

•F>Blatchley,  R.  S.,  Oil  and  gas  in  Crawford  and  Lawrence  counties:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Sur¬ 
vey  Bull.  22,  p.  14,  1913. 


118 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


supply  from  this  sand  which  here  is  only  about  30  feet  in  thickness.  Xo 
water  was  reported  in  the  sand. 

Another  small  gas-producing  area  in  which  the  gas  comes  from  sand 
at  1,400  feet  elevation  is  found  along  the  line  between  secs.  14  and  23, 
T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township).  Five  wells  have  drawn 
gas  from  this  sand. 

Over  much  of  the  remainder  of  the  Birds  quadrangle  sand  is  re¬ 
ported  at  levels  between  1,350  and  1,430  feet  above  datum.  In  general 
the  sand  contains  water,  but  locally  it  holds  gas  at  the  top.  Over  the 
New  Hebron  oil  pool  this  sand  is  reported  in  many  of  the  wells  as  a 
thick  water  sand  at  the  top  of  which  in  some  places  gas  is  found.  Over 
the  Birds  oil  pool  in  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.,  a  thick  water  sand  at  this  hori¬ 
zon  is  reported.  It  is,  however,  barren.  This  shallow  sand  varies  great¬ 
ly  in  thickness  and,  although  widely  developed,  is  probably  not  continuous 
over  the  entire  field.  The  drill  is  the  only  means  of  testing  its  gas  possi¬ 
bilities. 


Robinson  Gas  Sand 

In  at  least  six  localities  in  the  quadrangle  gas  has  been  drawn  in 
considerable  quantity  from  sands  which  correspond  neither  to  the  shallow 
1,400-foot  gas  sand  nor  to  the  Robinson  oil  and  gas  sand,  which  lies  from 
1,030  to  1,100  feet  above  datum.  These  intermediate  gas  sands  are  marked 
by  great  irregularity  in  their  occurrence  both  vertically  and  horizontally. 
They  are  found  at  intervals  in  a  zone  ranging  in  elevation  from  1,110  feet 
to  1,250  feet  above  datum,  though  in  a  single  area  the  production  com¬ 
monly  comes  from  a  single  lens  or  closely  related  lenses  at  approximately 
equal  altitudes.  This  horizon  lies  either  at  the  top  of  the  Pottsville  forma¬ 
tion  or  at  the  base  of  the  Carbondale,  probably  the  former.  The  principal 
areas  in  which  this  gas  of  moderate  depth  has  been  found  are  indicated 
on  the  map  (FI.  IV).  A  short  description  of  each  follows. 

Canaan  Gas  Pool 

In  the  vicinity  of  Canaan  church  and  school,  near  the  common  corner 
of  secs.  13  and  24,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.,  and  secs.  18  and  19,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10 
W.  (Montgomery  Township),  a  small  isolated  gas  pool  was  discovered 
and  developed  during  the  summer  of  1913.  By  August,  1915,  ten  wells 
had  been  drilled  two  of  which  had  proved  to  be  dry,  three  had  been 
abandoned,  and  another  was  being  used  only  to  supply  a  farm  house.  The 
gas  was  found  in  a  sand  at  1,110  to  1,133  feet  above  datum.  The  gas 
sand  appears  to  be  of  very  limited  extent,  but  the  possibilities  of  slight 
extensions  of  the  field  seem  not  to  have  been  exhausted.  The  Robinson 
sand  underlies  this  gas  pool  at  1,040  to  1,050  feet,  but  is  filled  with  salt 
water. 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  IV 


Producing  oil  well 
Abandoned  oil  well 
Dry  hole 
Gas  well 

Abandoned  gas  well 

Oil  pools  in  Robinson 
sand 

Gas  pools  in  or  within 
100  feet  above  Robin¬ 
son  gas  sand 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


BULLETIN  NO.  33.  PLATE  IV 


Producing  oil  well 
Abandoned  oil  well 
Dry  hole 
Gas  well 

Abandoned  gas  well 


j  Gas  pools  In  or  within 
100  feet  above  Robln- 
. '  '%  son  gas  sand 

Gas  pools  in  shallow 
sands 


W  H  Herron, Geographer  in  charge 
Topography  by  Fred  Greff  Jr, 

Control  by  Corps  of  Engineers  U.S.Army, 

U  S-Coest  and  Geodetic  Survey,  CB. Kendal 
G  W. Luces. H  W  Rsa body,  end  R.G.CI inite 
Surveyed  in  1914. 

Suevcvae  m  coopination  with  t«i  statc  or  Illinois. 


Contour  interval  20  feet 


Map  showing  oil  field  in  Birds  quadrangle 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


119 


Heathsville  Pool 

In  sec.  7,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W.  (Montgomery  Township),  gas  is  found 
in  from  one  to  three  sands  between  1,100  and  1,203  feet  above  datum. 
The  sands  are  lenticular  and  very  irregular.  The  field  forms  the  eastern 
extremity  of  the  Birds  oil  pool,  and  the  majority  of  the  wells  pass  through 
the  gas  sand  into  the  Robinson  oil  sand  below.  Such  wells  produce  both 
gas  and  oil. 

Minor  Gas  Pools 

Around  the  common  corner  of  secs.  8,  9,  16,  and  17,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11 
W.  (Montgomery  Township),  over  the  outlier  of  the  Birds  oil  pool 
in  the  Robinson  sand  to  be  described  on  the  following  pages,  a  gas  sand  is 
found  at  elevations  of  1,123  to  1,170  feet  above  datum. 

Other  small  areas  in  which  gas  sand  at  this  horizon  is  found  are  in 
the  SE.  cor.  sec.  14  and  the  NW.  cor.  sec.  24,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey 
Creek  Township),  and  in  the  SE.  ^4  sec.  30,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Bond 
Township ) . 

In  the  eastern  half  of  sec.  3  and  the  western  part  of  sec.  2,  T.  5 
N.,  R.  12  W. ;  and  the  SE.  T4  sec.  34,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek 
Township),  gas  is  found  at  several  levels  within  the  general  horizons  un¬ 
der  discussion.  There  seem  to  be  several  gas  lenses  at  the  levels  ranging 
from  1,110  to  1,300  feet.  This  region  constituted  the  Shaffer-Smathers 
gas  area  in  which  in  November,  1914,  by  deeper  drilling  oil  was  discov¬ 
ered  in  the  Robinson  sand,  and  the  so-called  Chapman  pool  was  opened. 
The  gas  undoubtedly  was  derived  in  part  from  the  upper  lenses  of  the 
Robinson  sand.  Previous  to  the  opening  of  the  Chapman  pool,  hope  of 
finding  oil  in  the  lower  sand  seems  to  have  been  given  up  following  the 
drilling  of  scattered  deep  wells  in  which  no  paying  quantities  of  oil  were 
found.  Several  scattered  gas  wells,  all  but  one  of  which  are  now  aban¬ 
doned,  have  been  drilled  in  secs.  7,  8,  9,  and  17,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Eamotte 
Township).  Their  gas  supply  came  in  part  from  sands  at  various  levels 
between  1,100  and  1,300,  in  part  from  the  Robinson  sand  at  1,070  to  1,080 
feet  above  datum.  Great  irregularity  characterizes  the  sand  of  this  vicinity. 

Wells  near  Palestine,  secs.  2,  3,  and  11,  T.  6  N.  R.  11  W.  (Lamotte 
Township),  tapped  gas  at  one  to  three  levels  at  the  horizon  under  discus¬ 
sion.  At  least  three  of  these  wells  were  drilled  down  to  the  top  of  the 
Robinson  sand  but  obtained  only  a  showing  of  oil. 

OIL  IN  ROBINSON  SAND 

The  territory  in  which  the  Robinson  sand  is  productive  falls  natural¬ 
ly  into  several  districts,  units,  or  pools,  each  of  which  it  will  be  shown 
is  quite  distinct  and  independent  of  the  others  (PI.  V).  In  the  follow¬ 
ing  sections  each  pool  is  described  in  detail  and  the  facts  which  form  the 


120 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


basis  of  the  discussion  of  the  origin  of  the  oil  sand  and  the  conditions 
which  have  controlled  the  oil  accumulation  are  presented.  The  various 
pools  are  described  approximately  in  the  order  of  their  development. 

Description  of  Pools 

PARKER  POOL 
GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

The  Parker  pool,  in  which  oil  was  first  discovered  within  the  quad¬ 
rangle,  underlies  an  area  of  about  2^4  square  miles  in  secs.  9,  10,  11, 
14,  15,  and  16,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township).  Like  the 
Flat  Rock  and  New  Hebron  pools,  described  on  following  pages,  it  is 
entirely  isolated  from  other  producing  areas.  The  main  body  of  the  pool 
in  section  15  and  adjacent  portions  of  sections  10,  11,  14  and  16  is  the 
most  compact  and,  for  its  area,  one  of  the  richest  pools  in  the  quadrangle. 
Section  15  contained  130  wells  of  which  all  but  12  were  productive.  The 
outlying  portion  of  the  pool  in  section  9  is  practically  distinct  from  the 
main  body,  not  only  in  position  but  also  in  the  character  of  its  sands.  The 
northeastern  prolongation  in  section  11  is  also  somewhat  isolated.  The 
limit  of  the  pool  seems  to  have  been  very  closely  determined  by  test  wells 
around  most  of  its  border  except  on  the  southwest,  where  there  seems  to 
be  a  possibility  of  slight  extension.  On  the  south  and  southeast  the  border 
is  very  sharp. 

The  field  was  developed  and  the  productive  territory  closely  outlined 
mainly  during  the  years  from  1907  to  1910. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  OIL  SAND 

The  production  comes  mainly  from  a  thick,  continuous  bed  of  sand 
whose  limits  seem  to  be  closely  indicated  by  those  of  the  producing  area. 
The  sand  is  penetrated  to  depths  of  20  to  40  feet  in  the  majority  of  the 
wells,  but  very  few  pass  entirely  through  it.  In  the  central  part  of  the 
field  (see  Plate  V,  A,  B,  C,  and  D.)  the  top  of  the  sand  lies  from  1,045  to 
1,100  feet  above  datum.  At  the  west  end  the  sand  breaks  up  into  a  num¬ 
ber  of  smaller  lenses  of  very  irregular  form  and  elevation  (Plate  V,  A, 
B.).  On  the  south  and  southeast  borders  it  either  pinches  out,  or  its 
surface  descends  steeply  toward  the  southeast,  for  from  producing  wells 
at  1,055  to  1,070  feet  above  datum  there  is  a  drop  in  the  wells  on  the  next 
location  only  400  feet  distant  of  30  to  50  feet  to  a  water  sand  lying  almost 
flat  at  about  1,020  feet  (Plate  V,  A,  C,  and  D).  From  the  abrupt  char¬ 
acter  of  this  descent  and  from  the  nearly  flat-lying  attitude  of  the  lower 
water  sand,  it  seems  more  probable  that  the  oil  sand  pinches  out  than 
that  it  dips  down  so  steeply. 

Near  the  common  corner  of  sections  10,  11,  14,  and  15  the  top  of 
the  sand  presents  very  great  irregularities  in  the  form  of  mounds  and 
hollows  which  have  a  relief  of  over  50  feet  and  a  width  of  from  1,200  to 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  V 


I  Oil. best  oil  Indicated  „  _ _  .«  _ _ . 

by  widest  part  ot  triangle'  ~  ottom  °*  hole  *  Gae  *  Watcr  •  Sand, thickness  unknown  *“ 

Profile  sections  of  Robinson  sand  in  Birds  quadrangle 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


121 


2,000  feet  (PL  V,  C).  That  the  irregularity  is  due  to  irregular  heaping  up 
of  the  sand,  not  to  structure,  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  the  sand  is  very 
thick  in  the  mounds, 

A  marked  ridge  in  the  surface  of  the  sand  extends  in  a  direction  a 
little  east  of  north  through  the  western  part  of  section  15  (PL  V,  D). 
It  is  due  to  a  thickening  of  the  sand  at  the  top  which  develops  locally  into 
a  narrow  lens  separated  from  the  main  sand  body  by  shale,  but  elsewhere 
is  joined  with  it.  Immediately  east  of  this  ridge,  in  the  SE.  34  NW.  34 
sec.  15,  is  a  low  depression  in  which  the  sands  are  very  thin  and  bear 
only  water.  Except  along  the  western  side  there  is  no  marked  splitting 
up  of  the  Parker  sand  bed  into  lenses.  The  partially  isolated  outlier  in 
section  9  consists  of  very  irregular  lenses  of  sand,  the  principal  and  the 
most  productive  of  which  lies  at  an  elevation  about  30  feet  above  the  top 
of  the  sand  in  the  main  mass  in  section  15.  The  lenses  are  thin  and  not 
distinctly  connected  with  the  sand  in  the  main  pool.  The  wells  produce 
considerable  gas  with  the  oil,  and  the  oil  is  reported  to  be  2  or  3  degrees 
Beaume  lighter  than  in  the  main  pool. 

POSITION  OF  OIL  IN  SAND 

Except  in  a  very  few  wells  the  oil  in  the  main  body  of  the  Parker  pool 
lay  at  the  top  of  the  sand.  Here  and  there  it  was  reported  to  lie  10  to  20 
feet  below  the  top,  but  such  cases  were  exceptional.  Even  in  the  local  high 
spots  in  the  surface  of  the  sand  the  oil  commonly  extended  to  the  top.  The 
oil  is  reported  to  be  heavy. 


WATER  CONDITIONS 

In  the  main  body  of  the  pool  water  fills  the  lower  part  of  the  sand. 
The  water  records  given  in  the  well  logs  are  so  incomplete  that  a  more 
detailed  statement  can  not  be  made.  A  peculiar  feature,  however,  mani¬ 
fested  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  field  (PL  V,  D)  is  a  progressive  lowering 
of  the  water  level  toward  the  east  in  a  continuous  bed  of  sand.  This  fea¬ 
ture  is  so  marked  that  the  easternmost  producing  well  draws  its  oil  from 
a  level  slightly  below  that  of  the  salt  water  in  a  well  four  locations,  or 
1,600  feet,  to  the  west  in  the  same  bed  of  sand.  This  seems  to  indicate  that 
the  relative  positions  of  water  and  oil  may  to  some  extent  be  controlled 
by  capillarity  rather  than  by  the  ordinary  laws  of  hydrostatics. 

In  the  local  lenses  on  the  western  border  of  the  field  and  in  section  9 
the  distribution  of  the  oil  and  water  is  irregular.  Each  lens  seems  to  be 
independent  of  the  others.  In  any  single  lens  the  water  lies  in  the  lower 
part  and  the  oil  in  the  upper  part  of  the  sand.  Water  in  one  lens  may, 
however,  lie  above  oil  in  an  adjacent  lower  lens,  an  indication  that  the 
lenses  are  not  closely  connected.  (See  Plate  V,  B.) 


122 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


STRUCTURE 

On  the  whole,  taking-  into  consideration  the  irregular  character  of  the 
western  end  of  the  pool  and  its  outliers,  together  with  the  abrupt  limit  of 
production  along  the  southeastern  side,  it  appears  probable  that  the  Parker 
pool  is  due  to  an  accumulation  of  sand  at  the  Robinson  horizon  in  beds 
elsewhere  impervious,  rather  than  to  structural  arching  or  doming  of  the 
strata.  Such  probability  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that  many  of  the  dry 
wells  outside  the  producing  area  are  reported  to  have  struck  no  sand  or 
only  very  thin  sand. 

BIRDS  POOL, 

GENERAL  DESCRIPTION 

The  Birds  pool  is  the  largest  of  four  principal  producing  fields  within 
the  Birds  quadrangle.  It  extends  in  a  direction  about  N.  30°  E.  from  the 
western  side  of  the  village  of  Birds  in  the  E.  3/2  sec.  30,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W., 
Bond  Township,  for  a  distance  of  seven  miles  to  the  center  of  sec.  7,  T. 
5  N.,  R.  10  W.  (Montgomery  Township).  Its  greatest  width  is  a  little 
over  two  miles.  A  loosely  connected  outlier  extends  westward  into  secs. 
17  and  18,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.,  and  another  is  found  round  the  common 
corner  of  secs.  8,  9,  and  16.  The  most  prolific  part  of  the  pool  is  in  secs. 
14,  15,  16,  20,  21,  and  22,  Montgomery  Township,  and  in  sec.  29  and  the 
northern  part  of  sec.  28,  Bond  Township,  all  of  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.  The 
extreme  eastern  end  of  the  pool  in  section  7,  Montgomery  Township,  is 
separated  from  the  other  producing  territory  by  one-half  mile  of  untested 
ground. 

A  noteworthy  feature  of  the  main  pool  is  a  narrow  strip  of  productive 
territory  which  marks  its  almost  perfectly  straight  southeastern  margin  in 
the  NE.  cor.  sec.  28,  Bond  Township,  and  in  secs.  22  and  23,  and  the  south¬ 
ern  part  of  sec.  14,  Montgomery  Township.  This  narrow  productive  area 
is  separated  from  the  main  body  of  the  pool  by  a  strip  of  unproductive 
ground  about  one-quarter  mile  in  width. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  OIL  SAND 

In  the  main  body  of  the  pool  the  producing  sand  is  struck  at  elevations 
ranging  from  1,060  to  1,110  feet  above  datum — most  commonly  between 
1,080  and  1,100  feet.  In  the  southwestern  part  of  the  field  secs.  20  and 
21,  Montgomery  Township,  and  28  and  29,  Bond  Township,  there  is  a 
single  thick  bed  of  sand  penetrated  by  the  wells  to  depths  of  20  to  60  feet. 
(See  PI.  V,  E.)  In  it  the  oil  lies  at  an  almost  uniform  level  of  1,070 
feet,  in  spite  of  the  irregularity  of  the  top  surface  of  the  sand  which 
amounts  to  as  much  as  40  feet.  Gas  occurs  in  most  of  the  wells  in  the 
sand  about  10  feet  above  the  oil.  That  water  lies  in  the  lower  part  of 
the  sand  is  inferred  from  the  fact  that  all  the  wells  end  at  about  1,050  feet 
above  datum,  and  that  at  this  level  water  is  reported  in  a  few  of  them. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


123 


The  conditions  as  regards  sand,  oil,  and  water  in  this  part  of  the  field  are 
well  shown  on  the  profile.  In  the  central  part  of  the  pool  in  sections  15, 
16,  and  21  the  conditions  are  much  the  same  as  in  the  southwestern  por¬ 
tions  except  that  here  and  there  the  upper  part  of  the  sand  rises  above 
the  shale  parting  and  fingers  out,  and  a  few  local  lenses  appear  at  higher 
levels,  from  1,100  to  1,140  feet  above  datum.  On  the  northwestern  side 
of  the  pool  the  principal  sand  beds  thin  to  less  than  20  feet.  Over  most 
of  section  16  the  sands  are  very  irregular.  Here  the  oil  lies  at  an  almost 
perfectly  uniform  level  of  1,070  feet,  and  there  is  gas  about  15  feet  above 
— whether  in  the  top  of  the  oil  sand  or  in  a  higher  gas  sand  could  not  be 
determined  from  the  well  records. 

A  pronounced  local  lens  at  an  elevation  slightly  higher  than  the  gen¬ 
eral  level  appears  in  the  southern  quarter  of  section  16.  It  is  similar  to 
the  outfingering  lenses  in  section  14  described  below,  and  like  them  is 
probably  connected  at  some  point  with  the  main  sand  mass. 

The  partly  isolated  producing  strip  which  marks  the  southeastern  bor¬ 
der  of  the  pool  (PI.  V,  E,  right)  appears  to  be  a  local  reef  along  which 
the  sand  is  piled  up  higher  and  thicker  than  in  the  barren  territory  between 
it  and  the  main  body  of  the  pool. 

In  section  14  the  regularity  which  characterizes  the  sand  in  the  section 
to  the  west  (sec.  15)  largely  disappears.  In  the  southern  half  of  the  sec¬ 
tion  the  fingering  lenses  shown  on  the  profile  (PI.  V,  F.)  introduce  a  great 
deal  of  irregularity;  in  the  northern  part  and  in  sections  11  and  12  the 
sand  lies  low,  and  water  is  found  near  its  top  in  most  of  the  wells.  Above 
the  water  there  appears  to  be  only  a  scum  of  oil.  At  the  eastern  end  of 
the  pool  in  sec.  7,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W.  (Montgomery  Township),  the  irreg¬ 
ularity  is  still  greater  on  account  of  the  presence  of  several  local  lenses  at 
elevations  higher  than  that  of  the  sand  in  the  main  body  of  the  pool  to 
the  west.  The  lower  of  these  lenses  at  about  1,090  feet  above  datum  pro¬ 
duces  the  oil,  and  higher  lenses  at  1,120  to  1,203  feet  yield  considerable 
gas. 

It  is  doubtful  if  the  oil-bearing  sand  in  this  portion  of  the  field  con¬ 
nects  directly  with  that  farther  west. 

The  outliers  of  the  Birds  pool  in  sections  8  and  9  and  the  northern 
part  of  sections  16  and  17,  Montgomery  Township,  are  partly  isolated 
from  the  main  body,  though  their  oil  is  produced  from  about  the  same 
horizon.  This  area  is  characterized  by  great  irregularity  in  its  sand.  The 
oil  sand  is  subject  to  marked  variations  in  thickness  and  thins  out  toward 
the  north  and  northeast  from  its  thickest  part  in  the  NE.  ^4  sec.  17  into 
diverging,  outfingering  beds  separated  by  shale.  A  gas-bearing  sand  is 
found  at  elevations  of  1,121  to  1,146  feet  above  datum  in  the  wells  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  this  area.  Gas  is  also  found  not  uncommonly 
in  the  upper  lenses  of  the  oil  sand  in  places  where  it  fingers  out  to  two 


124 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


or  more  distinct  beds.  Considered  as  a  whole  this  oil  pool  seems  due  to 
a  lens  of  sand  which  is  thickest  near  the  northwest  corner  of  section  17 
and  splits  and  thins  out  toward  the  north  and  northeast.  The  limits  of 
this  area  have  been  closely  determined  by  drilling. 

Near  the  common  corner  of  sections  17,  18.  19.  and  20,  T.  5  N.,  R. 
11  W.,  is  a  moderately  productive  outlier  of  the  Birds  pool.  The  sands 
here  are  thin  and  relatively  uniform  (see  stereogram,  PI.  VI).  Their 
thickness  averages  only  10  to  20  feet,  though  locally  it  is  as  great  as  40 
feet.  The  majority  of  the  wells  pass  entirely  through  the  sands  into  the 
underlying  shales.  The  stereogram  shows  clearly  that  thickening  and 
thinning  of  the  sand  beds  is  of  dominant  importance  in  determining  the 
high  and  low  places  on  its  surface.  The  characteristic  splitting  off  of 
beds  into  separated  lenses  is  also  distinctly  revealed.  Where  such  split¬ 
ting  has  occurred  and  two  sand  beds  are  separated  by  shale,  gas  is  com¬ 
monly  found  in  the  upper,  and  oil  in  the  lower  bed.  The  sands  particu¬ 
larly  where  thickened  at  the  top,  are  not  completely  saturated  with  oil. 
Water  lies  in  the  bottom  of  some  of  the  lower  depressions  in  the  sand 
beds.  The  conditions  in  this  outlier  are  particularly  significant  when  com¬ 
pared  with  those  in  the  main  field  to  the  south.  Here  the  sand  beds  are 
thin  and  low ;  there  they  are  thick,  and  the  thickening  appears  to  be  at 
the  top,  for  the  bottom  of  the  sand  in  the  10-  to  20-foot  bed  of  the  out¬ 
lier  is  at  about  the  same  level  as  the  bottom  of  the  majority  of  the  wells 
in  the  main  field  to  the  south,  but  these  wells  end  in  sand  about  60  feet 
below  its  top.  Thus  a  thickening  of  the  sand  at  the  top  to  the  extent 
of  40  to  50  feet  is  indicated. 


FLAT  ROCK  POOL 

The  Flat  Rock  pool  is  a  long,  narrow,  and  compact  area  of  producing 
territory  distinctly  isolated  from  neighboring  pools.  It  extends  from  the 
NE.  sec.  1,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township),  in  an  almost 
straight  line  northeastward  for  four  miles  to  the  SW.  %  sec.  21,  T.  6  X., 
R.  11  W.  (Montgomery  Township).  Its  width  ranges  from  one-half 
to  three-quarters  of  a  mile,  being  greatest  at  the  south  end.  In  its  nar¬ 
rowest  part  in  the  west  center  of  sec.  29,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.,  an  area  with 
a  large  proportion  of  dry  holes,  nearly  divides  the  pool  into  two  parts. 
The  oil  is  produced  from  the  Robinson  sand  at  elevations  ranging  from 
1,050  to  1,110  feet  above  datum,  but  the  majority  of  the  wells  obtain  oil 
from  levels  between  1,070  and  1,080  feet. 

The  extreme  southern  end  of  the  pool  in  sections  1  and  6,  Honey 
Creek  Township,  is  characterized  by  great  irregularity  in  the  sand.  Cor¬ 
relations  can  scarcely  be  made  from  one  well  to  the  next.  In  general  one 
or  more  gas  sands  overlie  the  oil  from  50  to  100  feet  above  it,  but  the  oil 
lies  at  levels  which  differ  as  much  as  30  feet.  Near  the  north  line  of  sec¬ 
tions  1  and  6  the  sand  bed  becomes  continuous  and  from  30  to  70  feet 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


125 


thick  and  is  penetrated  by  very  few  wells.  Its  surface  presents  a  series 
of  ridges  and  hollows  extending  northeast  and  southwest  parallel  to  the 
trend  of  the  pool  (PI.  V,  G).  These  persist  northward  at  least  to  the  north 
line  of  section  31  and  characterize  all  the  widest  part  of  the  pool.  Water 
stands  near  the  top  of  the  sand  so  that  wells  in  the  hollows  have  either 
struck  water  at  the  start  or  have  been  small  and  short-lived  producers. 
Most  of  the  producing  wells  yield  abundant  salt  water  with  the  oil.  Fur¬ 
thermore,  salt  water  in  this  region  is  proving  very  troublesome  on  account 
of  the  great  rapidity  with  which  it  corrodes  all  casings  and  pipes. 

In  the  narrow  middle  part  of  the  pool  the  sands  become  broken  into 
several  thin  beds,  and  many  dry  holes  and  abandoned  wells  testify  to  the 
spotty  character  of  this  portion  of  the  field.  On  the  Tohill  and  Hope 
farms,  SE.  ^4  sec.  30,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township),  and 
SW.  Ct  sec.  29,  Montgomery  Township,  the  sands  are  heaped  up  to  30 
or  40  feet  above  their  normal  height,  and  three  thin  lenses  overlie  the 
main  body  of  the  sand  whose  thickness  is  unknown,  since  the  wells  end  in 
sand  (see  PL  VI). 

Near  the  north  end  of  the  pool  in  the  SE.  ^4  sec.  20  and  the  NE.  l/\. 
sec.  29,  Montgomery  Township,  is  the  small  Higgins  pool.  In  this  pool 
the  sands  consist  of  two  lenses,  one  above  the  other,  both  of  which  thicken 
in  the  middle  till  they  join,  and  taper  out  at  each  end  (PI.  V,  H).  Above 
both,  at  about  1,150  feet,  is  a  thin  gas  sand.  The  extreme  northeastern 
end  of  the  pool,  in  the  SW.  l/\.  sec.  21,  Montgomery  Township,  lies  on  a 
flat  terrace  at  1,060  to  1,070  feet,  about  30  feet  below  the  top  of  the  sand 
in  the  SE.  sec.  20  (PI.  V,  I,  right).  On  this  terrace  the  wells  have 
been  poor  and  most  of  them  short-lived.  This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
oil  is  closely  underlain  by  water  which  breaks  through  at  the  shot  or  later 
and  ruins  the  well.  The  initial  production  of  these  wells  is  low  but  suffi¬ 
cient  to  have  stimulated  repeated  drillings.  (During  the  winter  and  spring 
of  1916  this  field  has  been  extended  eastward  into  the  SE.  Nt  sec.  21,  and 
a  few  good  gas  wells  have  been  drilled  in  the  north  half  of  section  22.) 

The  Flat  Rock  pool  as  a  whole  is  an  area  in  which  the  top  of  the  sand 
lies  from  30  to  50  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sands  in  adjoining  areas  at 
either  side ;  but  the  character  of  the  surface  with  its  parallel  ridges  and  its 
fingering  lenses  is  such  as  to  indicate  that  the  elevated  position  of  the  top 
of  the  sand  is  due  to  its  mode  of  deposition  rather  than  to  deformation 
of  the  stratum  after  it  was  deposited.  A  profile  along  the  axis  of  the  pool 
(PI.  V,  I)  shows  that  the  level  of  the  top  of  the  axis  is  variable  and  that 
there  is  no  noticeable  plunge  in  either  direction. 

Over  the  southern  and  widest  part  of  the  Flat  Rock  pool  the  shallow 
gas  sand,  roughly  1,400  feet  above  datum,  was  reported  in  several  of  the 
wells  and  has  been  drilled  in  some  places  for  its  gas  which  is  used  for 


126 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


pumping.  This  gas  sand  is  reported  as  being  thick  and  to  contain  water 
in  the  lower  parts. 

A  small  pool  in  which  three  wells  were  producing  in  1915  has  been 
developed  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  center  of  sec.  20,  T.  6  N.,  R. 
11  W.  (Montgomery  Township),  three-quarters  of  a  mile  north  of  the 
Higgins  pool.  The  oil  is  derived  from  a  lens  in  the  Robinson  sand  at 
1,115  to  1,125  feet  above  datum.  This  is  20  to  30  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  oil  in  the  Higgins  pool  and  corresponds  closely  with  that  of  the 
upper  gas  lens  in  that  pool.  It  is  noteworthy  that  the  oil  in  this  small 
pool  is  reported  to  be  decidedly  lighter  than  elsewhere  in  the  region, 
whereas  the  oil  in  the  Higgins  pool  is  very  heavy,  testing  about  23° 
Beaume. 


NEW  HEBRON  POOL 

During  the  first  week  of  July,  1909,  the  first  successful  well  in  the 
New  Hebron  pool  was  completed  on  the  Ida  A.  Love  farm  about  one- 
half  mile  south  of  the  hamlet  of  New  Hebron  in  the  SE.  )4  SE.  34  sec. 

21,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township).  This  region  had  been 
supposed  to  have  been  condemned  by  various  dry  wells  in  the  neighbor¬ 
hood.  The  initial  production  of  25  barrels  started  a  local  boom  which 
resulted  in  the  rapid  extension  of  drilling.  A  large  proportion  of  the 
first  test  wells  happened  to  be  dry,  but  a  few  good  wells  led  to  continued 
drilling  and  to  the  rapid  opening  of  the  field. 

The  producing  portion  of  the  New  Hebron  field  as  now  developed 
covers  an  area  of  about  two  square  miles  in  parts  of  secs.  20,  21,  and 

22,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township),  and  sec.  16,  T.  6  N., 
R.  12  W.  (Robinson  Township).  Of  this  the  western  third  in  sec.  20 
and  the  western  half  of  sec.  21  lies  outside  the  Birds  quadrangle. 

The  pool  is  due  to  a  distinctly  local  development  of  irregular  lenses 
in  the  Robinson  sand.  On  all  sides  its  limits  appear  to  be  determined  by 
a  thinning  out  and  disappearance  of  the  sand  lenses.  Over  most  of  the 
area  two  beds  of  sand  are  encountered  in  the  wells,  the  upper  at  about 
1,130  feet,  the  lower  at  1,080  to  1,095  feet  above  datum  (PI.  V,  K).  Over 
a  small  part  of  the  area  along  the  east  side  of  the  SE.  34  sec.  21  the  two 
lenses  are  merged  and  form  a  single  thick  lens  thickened  at  both  top  and 
bottom.  In  the  bottom  of  this  thick  sand  lens  one  of  the  richest  produc¬ 
ing  pools  was  found  (PI.  V,  J).  Both  the  lenses  are  developed  in  the 
southeastern  part  of  the  pool — namely,  in  the  NE.  34  SE.  34  sec.  21,  and 
the  SW.  34  sec.  22.  To  the  south,  along  the  northern  line  of  section  27 
the  lower  bed  disappears  and  only  the  upper  is  represented ;  toward  the 
east  the  upper  lens  disappears,  but  the  lower  persists  for  a  short  distance ; 
toward  the  north  both  lenses  thin  out  and  in  a  strip  about  one-quarter 
mile  in  width  extending  east  and  west  through  the  center  of  sections  21 
and  22,  neither  sand  is  present.  In  the  northern  half  of  the  field  in  the 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


127 


NE.  34  and  NW.  34  NE.  34  sec.  21,  and  the  southern  part  of  sec.  16, 
Robinson  Township,  a  separate  lens  (PI.  V,  J,  Kaley  and  Van  Horn  wells) 
at  the  horizon  of  the  lower  lens  to  the  south  yields  the  oil.  This  lens  is 
subject  to  marked  local  thickening  and  thinning,  as  is  shown  in  the  profile. 

A  small  lens  at  about  the  level  of  the  upper  of  those  described  fur¬ 
nished  limited  production  in  the  center  of  section  22.  Most  of  the  wells 
in  this  area  were,  however,  short-lived. 

The  most  striking  feature  of  the  oil-bearing  sand  beds  in  the  New 
Hebron  pool  is  their  irregularity  and  marked  lenticular  character.  The 
larger  lenses  are  more  even  on  the  top  than  on  the  bottom.  In  the  thick 
sand  bed  already  described  along  the  east  side  of  the  SE.  34  sec.  21,  the 
downward  convexity  of  the  bottom  of  the  sand  bed  is  very  marked.  In 
fact,  the  great  local  thickening  of  the  sand  at  this  point  is  due  mainly  to 
this  downward  convexity.  In  the  western  part  of  the  field  the  sands  are 
very  irregular,  but  most  of  the  production  comes  from  the  horizon  of  the 
lower  lens. 

Underlying  the  New  Hebron  field  at  a  level  of  1,000  to  1,020  feet  is 
a  persistent  bed  of  sand  which  in  most  of  the  wells  shows  water,  but  in 
a  few  produces  oil  in  small  quantities.  This  water-bearing  sand  is  reported 
in  almost  every  well  of  sufficient  depth  and  is  recognized  in  the  logs  of 
many  of  the  dry  holes  outside  the  limits  of  the  field.  It  appears  to  be 
entirely  distinct  from  and  lower  than  the  producing  oil  sand. 

The  Robinson  sands  in  the  New  Hebron  pool  are  free  from  water. 

Gas  was  found  in  the  majority  of  the  wells,  particularly  in  the  upper 
lens  of  the  Robinson  sand.  In  general,  this  upper  lens  produces  some  gas, 
and  in  a  few  wells  a  little  oil,  whereas  the  lower  lens  produces  mainly  oil, 
and  the  largest  production  comes  from  those  wells  which  lie  in  the  areas 
where  the  two  lenses  are  united  and  the  sand  is  thickest. 

There  has  been  no  recent  development  in  the  main  part  of  the  field, 
but  a  small  amount  of  drilling  has  been  done  in  extending  the  field  to  the 
northwest.  The  field,  on  the  whole,  is  declining.  In  the  NE.  34  NE.  34 
sec.  21,  in  the  northern  part  of  the  village  of  New  Hebron  where  a  town 
lot  boom  resulted  in  many  wells  being  drilled  close  together,  a  majority 
of  the  wells  have  been  abandoned  and  pulled.  The  close  spacing  hap¬ 
pened  to  be  in  a  place  where  the  sand  is  thin  and  soon  led  to  exhaustion. 

There  is  no  indication  that  the  field  connects  with  any  other  known 
fields.  On  all  sides  the  sandstone  beds  thin  out.  The  pool  must,  there¬ 
fore,  be  looked  upon  as  an  isolated  group  of  sand  lenses  in  which  the  oil 
has  accumulated.  There  is  no  evidence  whatever  that  the  oil  accumula¬ 
tion  was  governed  by  a  folding  or  a  deformation  of  the  strata. 

JACKSON  POOL 

d  he  small  field  thus  designated  covers  an  area  of  about  one  square 
mile  lying  mainly  in  the  southern  part  of  sec.  28,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey 


128 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Creek  Township),  but  extending  over  the  line  into  the  northern  part  of 
sec.  33  and  in  a  narrow  tongue  to  the  southeastward  into  the  NW.  Y\ 
sec.  34,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.  Only  the  eastern  half  of  the  field  as  thus 
described  lies  within  the  Birds  quadrangle.  This  eastern  half  has  been 
developed  very  recently — during  1913  to  1915 — while  the  western  part, 
in  the  Hardinville  quadrangle,  was  developed  somewhat  earlier.  The  field 
produces  both  oil  and  gas,  but  both  in  small  amounts.  The  initial  yield 
of  the  wells  in  the  portion  of  the  field  within  the  Birds  quadrangle  averaged 
only  about  5  to  10  barrels  per  day.  Those  in  the  western  half  of  the 
field,  in  the  Hardinville  quadrangle,  averaged  considerably  higher — from 
20  to  50  barrels  per  day.  The  gas  suffices  for  pumping  purposes.  The  oil 
and  gas  come  from  a  sand  whose  top  lies  at  elevations  between  1,020  and 
1,060  feet  above  datum.  The  thickness  of  the  sand  is  very  imperfectly 
known  because  only  a  few  wells  have  entirely  penetrated  it.  Many,  how¬ 
ever,  in  the  central  part  of  the  pool  have  penetrated  it  from  25  to  40  feet. 
Toward  the  southeast  the  sand  is  known  to  thin  and  pinch  out.  The  oil 
in  most  of  the  wells  lies  near  the  top  of  the  sand,  and  water  has  been 
struck  in  the  lower  parts  in  many  wells  at  about  1,000  feet. 

The  producing  sands  in  this  pool  lie  at  a  considerably  lower  level 
than  in  the  New  Hebron  pool  and  are  doubtless  entirely  distinct.  From 
a  study  of  the  logs  of  the  wells  in  the  area  between  the  two  pools  it  is 
concluded  that  the  sand  in  the  Jackson  pool  is  continuous  with  the  lower 
water  sand  which  is  encountered  in  many  of  the  New  Hebron  wells  at 
about  1,010  to  1,020  feet  and  which  produces  oil  in  small  quantities  in  some 
of  them.  The  producing  part  of  the  Jackson  pool  is  thought  to  be  condi¬ 
tioned  by  a  local  thickening  of  this  sand  which  brings  its  top  above  the 
general  water  level.  There  is  a  possibility,  however,  that  a  local  structural 
dome  may  be  present  and  may  have  controlled  the  accumulation  of  the 
oil,  but  in  view  of  conditions  in  the  other  pools,  such  an  explanation  seems 
unlikely.  In  scattered  wells  gas  is  encountered  in  sands  of  the  level  of 
the  producing  beds  in  the  New  Hebron  pool.  This  is  the  horizon  of  the 
two  gas  wells  in  the  NE.  )4  sec.  33,  both  of  which  stop  in  this  upper 
sand,  and  of  well  No.  3  on  the  J.  D.  Highsmith  farm  in  the  SW.  ]/\  NE. 
34  sec.  33,  which  penetrated  to  a  greater  depth  but  failed  to  encounter  the 
lower  Jackson  sands. 


WEGER  POOL 

A  small  pool  about  134  square  miles  in  area  lies  in  sections  13  and 
18,  and  adjacent  portions  of  secs.  7,  12,  19,  and  24,  T.  5  N.,  Rs.  11  and 
12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township),  midway  between  the  Birds  and  the 
Parker  pools.  It  is  separated  from  the  Birds  pool  by  a  strip  of  unproduc¬ 
tive  ground  only  about  one-half  mile  wide,  extending  north  and  south 
through  the  middle  of  sec.  18,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


129 


The  oil  in  this  pool,  as  elsewhere,  is  produced  from  the  Robinson 
sand.  Nowhere  within  the  quadrangle  is  the  essentially  local  development 
of  the  producing  sand  more  clearly  displayed  than  here.  (See  profile,  PI. 
V,  L.)  At  the  south  end  of  the  pool  in  the  NW.  Rj  sec.  19,  the  sand 
thins  out  and  disappears ;  northward  it  becomes  more  than  40  feet  thick 
in  a  distance  of  only  one-quarter  mile.  The  thick  sand  underlies  all  the 
producing  territory  northward  along  the  line  between  sections  18  and  13, 
and  the  eastern  part  of  section  13.  To  the  east,  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  field,  the  sand  apparently  thins  out  within  a  short  distance.  T  he 
boundaries  of  the  thick  sand  to  the  west  have  not  been  reached,  wherefore 
it  appears  that  the  possibilities  of  further  development  in  this  direction 
have  not  yet  been  exhausted.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  pool  the  thick 
portion  of  the  sand  bed  lies  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  12.  East¬ 
ward  from  there  the  sand  breaks  into  two  beds  the  upper  of  which  is 
locally  known  as  “gas  sand”  and  the  lower  as  the  “oil  sand”.  Water  is 
developed  in  the  lower  sand  at  about  1,050  feet.  Of  the  two  lenses  the 
upper,  or  gas  sand,  is  the  more  extensive  and  spreads  out  to  the  east  at 
least  as  far  as  the  NW.  R4  NW.  Rj  sec.  17,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Montgom¬ 
ery  Township). 

MINOR  POOLS  IN  THE  ROBINSON  SAND 
ALLISON  POOL 

A  small  productive  pool  has  been  found  near  the  center  of  sec.  12,  T. 
5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township).  The  production  comes  from 
what  appears  to  be  a  local  accumulation  of  sand  at  the  Robinson  horizon 
between  1,060  and  1,085  feet  above  datum.  Water  fills  the  sand  just 
below  the  oil  at  the  general  level  of  1,050  feet. 

CHAPMAN  POOL 

The  completion  in  November,  1914,  of  a  successful  well  on  the  Charles 
Chapman  farm  in  the  NE.  Rj  NE.  Rj  sec.  3,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey 
Creek  Township),  opened  a  new  field  in  territory  supposed  to  have  been 
barren  of  oil.  At  least  five  wells  had  been  drilled  in  this  territory  previous 
to  the  completion  of  the  successful  Chapman  well,  but  they  had  produced 
only  gas  or  had  been  dry.  Oil  seems  not  to  have  attracted  the  attention 
of  the  operators  even  in  wells  which  penetrated  to  depths  as  great  as  or 
greater  than  those  at  which  oil  was  later  found  in  nearby  wells. 

In  general,  the  new  development  is  due  to  deeper  drilling.  The  major¬ 
ity  of  the  previous  wells  tapped  only  the  upper  lens  of  the  Robinson  sand 
in  which  considerable  gas  was  found.  The  fact  that  the  few  wells  which 
had  been  drilled  to  depths  great  enough  to  have  struck  the  oil  in  the  lower 
part  of  the  sand  failed  to  strike  oil  at  levels  which  have  later  been  found 
productive,  must  it  is  believed,  be  attributed  to  the  irregular,  “spotty” 
character  of  the  sand,  though  there  is  a  possibility,  in  some  cases  at  least, 


130 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


that  the  gas  pressure  may  have  held  back  the  oil,  and  that  after  this  was 
relieved  by  the  earlier  wells  the  oil  may  have  migrated  to  higher  levels. 
The  oil  comes  from  the  general  horizon  of  the  Robinson  sand.  It  is  re¬ 
ported  in  various  wells  between  1,050  to  1,080  feet.  The  sands  appear 
to  be  notably  irregular,  both  in  thickness  and  in  areal  distribution.  The 
available  records  are  so  few  and  show  so  great  irregularity  that  a  more 
detailed  statement  of  conditions  can  not  be  made. 

The  field  was  being  actively  extended  during  the  latter  part  of  1914 
and  the  summer  of  1915.  By  September  1,  1915,  there  had  been  com¬ 
pleted  15  productive  wells. 

SWEARINGEN  GAS  POOL 

A  small  pool  which  produces  gas  from  sand  at  the  Robinson  horizon, 
has  been  found  near  the  Swearingen  Chapel  at  the  common  corner  of  secs. 
17,  18,  19,  and  20,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Lamotte,  Honey  Creek,  and 
Montgomery  Townships).  The  principal  part  of  the  pool  is  in  the  SE.  y \ 
sec.  18,  and  the  SW.  %  sec.  17,  Lamotte  Township,  on  the  F.  G.  Swearin¬ 
gen  farm.  The  area  covered  is  somewhat  less  than  one-half  square  mile. 
The  wells  produced  gas  in  considerable  quantities,  but  the  majority  of 
them  lasted  only  two  or  three  years.  Only  6  of  the  12  original  wells  were 
producing  in  the  summer  of  1915.  The  sand  is  found  between  1,050  and 
1,080  feet  above  datum.  Only  the  upper  10  or  20  feet  has  been  pene¬ 
trated  because  salt  water  is  thought,  and  in  at  least  one  case  has  been 
proved,  to  lie  below. 

A  few  scattered  wells,  all  now  abandoned,  tapped  gas  sand  at  the 
Robinson  level  in  secs.  8  and  9,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Lamotte  Township), 
at  elevations  ranging  from  1,056  to  1,081  feet.  The  wells  are  too  far  apart 
for  detailed  correlations. 

Relation  of  Pools  in  Robinson  Sand 

The  four  principal  productive  pools  are  the  New  Hebron,  Flat  Rock, 
Parker,  and  Birds.  These  pools  are  almost  if  not  entirely  separated  from 
each  other.  Each  has  as  its  essential  nucleus  a  continuous  thick  bed  of 
sand  of  considerable  extent,  which,  in  general,  thins  out  or  becomes  lentic¬ 
ular  along  the  margins  and  in  irregular  outliers. 

That  the  formations  which  yield  oil  in  the  larger  pools  are  not  pres¬ 
ent,  or  are  very  much  thinner  in  adjacent  unproductive  territory  is  shown 
very  clearly  by  the  logs  of  many  of  the  dry  wells  on  the  borders  of  the 
pools.  This  feature  is  illustrated  along  the  southeast  side  of  the  Parker 
pool,  the  south  side  of  the  Birds  pool,  and  the  south  end  of  the  Weger  pool. 

The  smaller  productive  pools,  such  as  the  Weger,  Allison,  Jackson, 
and  Chapman,  lie  at  about  the  same  level  as  the  larger  pools,  but  are  en¬ 
tirely  distinct  from  them  or  at  most  connected  with  them  only  by  thin, 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


131 


unproductive  beds  of  sand  which  are  both  thinner  and  lower  than  the 
productive  beds  in  either  the  larger  or  the  smaller  pools. 

The  character  of  the  thin  beds  between  the  larger  pools  is  graphically 
shown  on  the  stereogram  (PI.  VI)  of  the  area  between  the  Birds  and  the 
Weger  pools.  Plere  the  producing  sands  are  thin  and  low  and  are  re¬ 
markably  uniformly  bedded  as  compared  with  the  thick  sand  masses  which 
constitute  the  main  pools.  That  most  of  the  wells  pass  entirely  through 
the  sands  into  the  underlying  shales  is  definite  proof  of  the  thinness  of 
the  sand  beds. 

The  sand  formations  in  the  minor  pools  are,  in  general,  irregular  as 
compared  with  the  larger  sand  masses  of  the  Birds,  Parker,  Flat  Rock, 
and  New  Hebron  pools.  This  is  notably  true  of  the  Jackson,  Chapman, 
Allison,  and  to  a  less  extent  of  the  Weger  pool.  A  similar  irregularity  is 
also  characteristic  of  the  outliers  of  the  main  sand  masses,  such  as  the 
western  end  of  the  Parker  pool  and  the  outlier  northwest  of  the  Parker 
pool  in  sec.  9,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Township)  ;  the  outlier 
of  the  Birds  pool  in  secs.  8,  9,  16,  and  17,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Montgom¬ 
ery  Township)  ;  the  extreme  eastern  end  of  the  Birds  pool;  and  the  eastern 
end  of  the  Flat  Rock  pool. 

The  scattered  test  wells  in  the  areas  between  the  producing  pools  show 
so  great  irregularity  in  the  sands  that  correlation  between  wells  one-half 
mile  or  more  apart  is  almost  impossible.  In  many  of  the  wells  no  sand 
occurs  at  the  Robinson  sand  horizon,  whereas  in  others  the  sand  is  pres¬ 
ent  but  unproductive,  in  some  places  being  filled  with  salt  water. 

Summarizing  the  foregoing,  it  may  be  said  that  the  accumulation  of 
oil  occurs  where  the  Robinson  sand  is  thick  and  massively  developed  and 
seems  to  have  been  conditioned  by  this  feature;  and  that  between  the 
known  producing  areas  the  sand  where  tested  has  proved  spotty  or  is 
absent.  (This  statement  should  not,  however,  be  taken  as  implying  that 
productive  pools  may  not  be  found  in  the  areas  between  those  now  known.) 
No  apparent  relation  to  geological  structure  other  than  this  has  been  dis¬ 
covered.  The  producing  sands  lie  at  approximately  the  same  elevation 
everywhere  within  the  quadrangle,  and  it  is  a  more  plausible  explanation 
that  whatever  differences  in  elevations  there  may  be  are  due  to  irregular¬ 
ities  in  the  deposition  of  the  sands  than  that  they  are  due  to  differences 
in  folding  or  arching  of  the  strata.  Any  differences  due  to  arching  are 
certainly  less  in  amount  than  the  known  differences  in  elevation  due  to  the 
irregularities  in  the  sand  lenses,  and  therefore,  even  if  present,  can  not 
be  detected  with  certainty. 

Probable  Mode  of  Origin  of  Robinson  Sand 

For  areas  in  which  wells  are  not  more  than  one  or  two  locations  (400 
to  1,000  feet)  apart,  the  logs  or  driller’s  records  of  the  wells,  though  in 
many  cases  not  so  detailed  as  might  be  desired,  nevertheless  yield  sufficient 


132 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


data  for  a  fairly  satisfactory  study  of  the  oil  sands.  Particularly  is  this 
true  regarding  records  of  wells  that  pass  entirely  through  the  sand  into 
underlying  formations.  The  oil  sands  in  each  of  the  pools  studied  by 
means  of  these  logs,  have  been  described  in  detail  on  the  preceding  pages. 
Jt  is  here  proposed  to  inquire  more  fully  into  the  question  of  the  origin 
of  the  sands  which  constitute  the  producing  beds.  Because  sand  beds  have 
different  structural  and  textural  characteristics  and  different  types  of  dis¬ 
tribution  corresponding  with  various  modes  of  origin,  a  knowledge  of  the 
origin  and  the  mode  of  deposition  of  the  sand  formations  involved  in  a 
particular  oil-producing  area  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  geologist 
or  to  the  oil  operator  who  may  desire  to  locate  new  territory  or  to  attempt 
the  extension  of  the  old  fields.  As  an  illustration  of  the  preceding  state¬ 
ment,  it  might  be  pointed  out  that  sand  beds  spread  out  over  the  ocean 
bottom  by  waves  have  very  different  characteristics  and  areal  extent  from 
sands  deposited  by  rivers  on  deltas  or  in  river  channels.  Prediction  as  to 
the  extension  of  known  fields  which  might  be  perfectly  safe  when  applied 
to  sands  of  the  former  type  would  be  utterly  worthless  if  one  were  dealing 
with  deposits  made  under  the  latter  conditions.  The  problem  of  the  origin 
of  the  sands  has  therefore  a  very  distinct  and  important  practical  bearing. 

The  available  data  on  the  sands  of  the  Birds  quadrangle,  presented 
in  the  following  paragraphs,  is  believed  to  be  sufficient  to  shed  much  light 
on  the  problem  of  their  origin.  By  way  of  caution  it  should  be  pointed 
out  that  the  accuracy  of  the  results  must  of  course  depend  on  that  of  the 
well  records  used,  and  that  where  these  are  in  error  or  were  carelessly 
recorded,  peculiar  structures  may  appear  in  the  profiles  which  are  not 
present  in  nature.  A  feature,  however,  which  is  consistently  recorded  in 
the  logs  of  several  adjacent  wells  may  be  accepted  with  assurance. 

It  is  conceivable  that  an  oil-bearing  formation  like  the  Robinson  sand, 
may  have  been  deposited  in  any  one  of  the  following  ways,  or  in  combin¬ 
ations  of  two  or  more  of  them:  (1)  spread  out  by  waves  and  currents 
over  the  sea  bottom,  (2)  deposited  in  the  form  of  basal  conglomerate  by 
the  waves  of  an  advancing  sea,  (3)  thrown  up  by  waves  a  short  distance 
off  shore  in  the  form  of  off-shore  bars  such  as  are  now  in  process  of 
formation  along  the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  of  the  United  States  and 
Mexico  and  along  other  low  sandy  coasts,  (4)  deposited  by  rivers  on  a 
land  surface  or  in  very  shallow  water  in  which  wave-action  was  weak. 
(5)  deposited  by  rivers  on  the  surface  and  on  the  front  of  a  delta  and  in 
part  re-worked  by  waves  and  currents  into  bars  and  beaches  or  spread 
out  over  the  adjacent  ocean  bottom.  If  formed  by  methods  3,  4,  or  5, 
portions  of  the  sand  might  be  worked  over  more  or  less  by  winds  and  pos¬ 
sibly  heaped  up  into  sand  dunes. 

The  testing  of  the  preceding  hypotheses  for  the  Robinson  sand  may 
perhaps  best  be  accomplished  by  considering  in  detail  the  logical  conse- 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  VI 


Stereogram  showing  characteristics  of  oil  sand  in  Birds  quadrangle 


1-M.  Montgomery 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


133 


quences  of  each  according  to  the  well-known  principles  of  geology  and 
physiography,  and  by  comparing  these  deduced  consequences  with  the  fea¬ 
tures  exhibited  by  the  formation  under  discussion.  In  this  way,  by  a  pro¬ 
cess  of  elimination,  the  problem  may  be  narrowed  down  to  only  a  few 
possibilities. 

1.  Sands  spread  out  over  the  sea  bottom  by  waves  and  currents. — 
Sand  deposits  made  in  this  manner  should  lie  in  beds  of  great  uniformity 
of  elevation  over  considerable  areas.  In  general  there  should  be  a  grad¬ 
ual  slope  toward  the  former  open  sea,  interrupted  by  only  minor  irreg¬ 
ularities  of  a  broad  type.  The  resulting  sand  beds  should  be  uniform  and 
persistent  over  areas  not  uncommonly  many  times  greater  than  that  of  the 
entire  Birds  quadrangle. 

From  the  descriptions  of  the  occurrence  of  the  Robinson  sand  it  is 
clear  that  it  is  not  of  this  type.  Its  very  pronounced  irregularity  from 
place  to  place,  its  marked  lenticular  character,  and  the  great  variation  in 
its  top  surface  are  all  out  of  harmony  with  such  an  explanation.  It  may, 
therefore,  be  discarded  as  inadequate  for  the  formation  as  a  whole,  though 
it  may  apply  in  a  limited  way  to  certain  areas  such  as  that  between  the 
Weger  and  the  Birds  pools,  shown  on  the  stereogram  (PL  VI). 

2.  Beach  deposits  of  an  advancing  sea  (basal  conglomerates  or  basal 
sandstone) . — When  on  account  of  a  rise  in  ocean  level  or  a  sinking  of  the 
land,  the  sea  advances  over  a  land  surface  its  waves  attack  the  land  and 
strew  the  debris  in  the  form  of  gravel  and  sand  along  the  shore  and  out 
over  the  adjacent  ocean  bottom.  As  the  sea  advances  the  coast  line  is 
pushed  farther  and  farther  inland.  Meanwhile  as  the  water  becomes 
deeper  the  sand  and  gravel  which  marked  its  former  shore  becomes  buried 
under  finer  material.  In  similar  manner  the  basal  sandstone  or  conglom¬ 
erate  is  spread  out  over  the  entire  area  over  which  the  sea  transgresses. 
Such  a  conglomerate,  according  to  Ulrich6,  is  not  in  all  cases  continuous 
over  the  entire  area  of  transgression  and  may  vary  considerably  in  com¬ 
position,  but  it  should  at  least  have  a  very  uniform  top,  for  that  surface 
is  determined  by  the  action  of  the  waves  in  open  waters. 

Applied  to  the  Robinson  sand  this  hypothesis  meets  with  the  same 
objection  as  the  previous  one — namely,  the  great  irregularity  of  the  sands, 
their  lack  of  continuity,  and  their  uneven  top  surface.  Furthermore,  there 
is  no  apparent  reason  why  a  basal  conglomerate  should  lie  in  channels 
extending  down  into  the  underlying  beds  as  do  the  sands  in  several  places 
in  the  region  under  consideration. 

3.  Off-shore  bar  and  lagoon  deposits. — Along  a  shelving  coast  the 
sea  throws  up  long  off-shore  bars  of  sand  such  as  are  now  forming  along 
the  Atlantic  and  Gulf  coasts  of  the  United  States.  Behind  the  bars  are 

oUlrich,  E.  O.,  Revision  of  the  Paleozoic  systems:  Geol.  Soc.  America  Bull.,  vol.  22,  pp. 
454-456,  1911. 


134 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


sheltered  lagoons  which  are  slowly  being  filled  up  by  mud  and  sand  in 
part  derived  from  the  land,  in  part  washed  in  over  the  bar  at  times  of 
storm.  At  varying  intervals  the  bars  are  broken  by  inlets  through  which 
the  tides  have  access  to  the  lagoons.  Such  off-shore  bars  are  not  uncom¬ 
monly  hundreds  of  miles  in  length,  though  broken  at  intervals  by  inlets. 
In  width  they  vary  from  one-fourth  mile  to  five  miles  or  more.  They  are 
composed  of  sand  heaped  up  by  the  waves  but  modified  on  the  surface  by 
winds  and  not  uncommonly  piled  up  into  sand  dunes.  On  the  ocean  side 
the  sand  of  the  bar  is  continuous  with  that  spread  out  over  the  ocean  bot¬ 
tom  by  the  waves.  On  the  landward  side  are  the  muds  and  sands  of  the 
lagoons.  If  a  bar  is  pushed  landward  by  the  waves  as  the  lagoon  fills 
up,  the  sands  of  the  bar  transgress  over  the  mud  of  the  lagoon  at  higher 
and  higher  levels  and  a  deposit  is  formed  which  in  section  is  illustrated 
in  figure  10,  drawn  to  represent  conditions  as  they  would  be  if  the  waves 


Fig.  10. — Diagrammatic  cross-section  of  sand-bar  deposits. 

were  pushing  the  bar  from  the  right  to  the  left,  and  if  the  whole  later 
became  buried  in  mud.  At  the  inlet  the  tides  scour  effectively  and  not 
only  maintain  a  channel  but  scour  down  from  50  to  100  feet,  making  a 
deep  hole  at  the  narrowest  part  of  the  inlet.  Opposite  the  inlet  a  delta¬ 
like  heaping  up  of  the  sand  takes  place  on  the  oceanward  side  of  the  bar. 
All  these  features  are  very  clearly  shown  on  the  United  States  Coast  and 
Geodetic  Survey  charts.  At  the  inlets  the  end  of  the  bars  are  turned  in¬ 
ward,  or  landward,  in  a  very  characteristic  manner,  as  shown  in  figure  11, 
a  sketch  of  such  an  inlet  taken  from  one  of  the  U.  S.  Coast  Survey  charts 
and  here  reproduced  for  comparison. 

From  the  above  description  it  is  apparent  that  many  points  of  sim¬ 
ilarity  exist  between  the  features  of  the  Robinson  sand  and  those  charac¬ 
teristic  of  off-shore  bars  now  in  process  of  formation.  A  closer  comparison 
emphasizes  this  similarity.  Each  of  the  three  larger  oil  pools  the  Birds, 
Parker,  and  Flat  Rock  pools,  are  composed  of  massive  beds  of  sand.  Both 
the  Flat  Rock  and  the  Birds  pools  are  notably  linear  in  extent  and  nearly 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


135 


Fig.  11. — Map  of  Barnegat  Inlet  and  Bay. 


R.  1 1  W. 


Fig.  12. — Contour  map  showing  surface  form  of  Birds  pool  sand. 


136 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


« 


parallel  to  each  other.  The  Parker  pool,  though  not  linear  in  outline,  is 
in  line  with  the  Flat  Rock  pool.  The  surface  of  the  southern  part  of  the 
Mat  Rock  pool  is  marked  by  undulations  parallel  to  the  length  of  the  sand 
mass,  a  feature  strikingly  in  harmony  with  the  bar  theory.  The  surface 
of  the  sand  in  the  Birds  pool  is  marked  by  narrow,  curving  ridges  (Fig.  12} 
which  bear  a  remarkable  resemblance  to  the  sand  formations  at  the  inlets 
which  interrupt  the  continuity  of  the  sand  bars  on  modern  coasts  (Fig.  11). 
The  minor  ridge  of  sand  which  constitutes  the  southeastern  margin  of  the 
Birds  pool  has  already  been  noted.  It  is  distinctly  a  long,  straight  ridge 
or  reef  of  sand.  Its  structure,  furthermore,  is  notable  in  that  it  presents 
outfingering  sand  lenses  of  a  type  shown  in  the  sketch  (Fig.  10)  directed 
toward  the  northwest,  thus  indicating  open  water  to  the  southeast.  The 
general  upward  convex  profile  of  the  top  of  the  sand  beds  is,  according 
to  Barrell7,  further  indication,  though  not  necessarily  proof,  that  they  are 
wave  formed.  The  dune-like  mounds  on  the  surface  of  the  sands  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  Parker  pool  are  in  harmony  with  the  bar  theory 
as  is  also  the  regular,  relatively  steep  descent  of  the  southeastern  border 
of  the  sand  mass,  in  case,  as  is  indicated  by  the  reef  at  the  southeastern 
margin  of  the  Birds  pool,  the  open  sea  lay  to  the  southeast. 

Notwithstanding  the  many  points  of  agreement  between  the  phenomena 
under  discussion  and  those  which  should  be  expected  under  the  bar  theory, 
certain  features  seem  to  show  that,  at  least  for  the  minor  pools,  some 
modification  of  this  explanation  must  be  sought.  The  objections  are:  (1) 
that  the  sand  masses  are  too  small  and  too  discontinuous  to  be  compared 
strictly  with  the  great  ofif-shore  bars  now  forming  on  the  coasts  of  the 
open  ocean;  (2)  the  minor  pools  have  the  characteristics  of  channel  de¬ 
posits  such  as  are  formed  by  rivers,  rather  than  sea-bottom  deposits  or 
bars;  (3)  they  are  too  irregularly  distributed  for  open-water  deposits. 
Some  explanation  must  therefore  be  found  which  is  in  harmony  with  these 
characteristics  as  well  as  with  those  of  the  larger  sand  bodies  which  con¬ 
stitute  the  major  pools. 

4.  Sands  deposited  by  rivers  on  the  surface  of  the  land  either  in 
channels  or  on  the  tops  of  deltas. — River  channel  deposits  are  character¬ 
ized  by  the  greatest  irregularity  both  in  form  and  in  composition.  This 
irregularity  is  due  to  the  constant  shifting  of  the  channels  and  to  the 
variable  character  of  the  sediment  load  carried  by  the  river.  In  general 
river-deposited  sand  should  lie  in  more  or  less  regular,  braided,  linear 
belts.  Such  deposits  differ  from  those  formed  on  the  ocean  bottom  in  that 
they  habitually  cut  down  into  the  underlying  beds  and  are  convex  down¬ 
ward  on  the  under  side,  whereas  the  top  surface  may  or  may  not  be  convex 
upward.  This  feature,  together  with  very  great  irregularity,  may  be  taken 
as  the  most  characteristic  of  river  deposits.  An  examination  of  the  cross- 

TBarrell,  Joseph,  Criteria  for  the  recognition  of  ancient  delta  deposits:  Geol.  Soc. 
America,  Bull.  vol.  23,  pp.  428,  433,  1912. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


137 


section  profiles  of  the  sands  in  the  various  pools  reveals  the  fact  that  they 
not  uncommonly  cut  down  into  the  underlying  beds  and  are  convex  down¬ 
ward.  This  is  particularly  true  in  the  New  Hebron  and  the  Weger  pools. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  large  sand  masses  which  compose  the  Birds,  Parker, 
and  Flat  Rock  pools  with  their  upward  convex  and  ridged  surfaces,  are 
not  readily  explained  as  purely  river-channel  deposits 

The  various  sand  beds  seem  therefore  to  possess  characteristics  of  a 
mixed  order,  some  peculiar  to  river  deposits,  others  to  those  of  wave- 
worked  sea  bottom  and  sand  bars. 

A  recognition  of  this  complexity  leads  directly  to  a  consideration  of 
the  fifth  of  the  proposed  hypotheses  ;  namely,  that : 

5.  The  oil-bearing  sands  may  be  part  of  a  great  delta  formation  in 
which  are  combined  river-channel  deposits,  off-shore  sand  bars  thrown  up 
by  the  leaves  along  the  front  of  the  delta,  and  wave-worked  sands  spread 
out  over  the  adjacent  ocean  bottom. — The  present  deltas  of  the  earth  where 
exposed  to  wave  action  are  much  modified  along  their  margins  by  the 
waves.  The  materials  supplied  by  the  rivers  are  picked  up  and  strewn 
along  the  coast  by  waves  and  currents  and  built  up  into  sand  bars  which 
differ,  however,  from  typical  off-shore  bars  in  that  they  are  smaller  and 
more  irregular  and  furthermore,  in  that  the  constant  building  out  of  the 
delta  front  causes  new  bars  to  be  thrown  up  at  intervals  outside  the  older 
ones,  thus  producing  a  more  or  less  parallel  series  of  discontinuous  sand 
bars,  the  inner  and  older  of  which  are  protected  from  wave  erosion  and, 
in  the  normal  course  of  events,  are  finally  buried  under  delta  deposits  and 
preserved  intact.  On  the  modern  deltas,  irregular  shifting  of  the  distrib¬ 
utary  streams  constantly  alters  the  form  of  the  delta  front;  incloses  lakes 
here  and  there  by  building  out  irregularly  ;  fills  others  with  sand ;  and  gives 
rise  to  numerous  channel  deposits  in  the  upper  beds  of  the  delta. 

Thus  on  modern  deltas  are  found  in  appropriate  proportion,  all  the 
features  described  as  characteristic  of  the  Robinson  sand  as  determined 
from  the  well  records.  Such  an  explanation  harmonizes  the  bar-like  form 
of  the  larger  sand  masses  with  the  channel  features  and  the  irregularity 
of  certain  of  the  smaller  pools  and  with  the  even,  thin  sand  beds  of  such 
outliers  as  that  shown  in  the  stereogram  (PL  VI),  near  the  corner  of 
secs.  17,  18,  19,  and  20,  T.  5  N..  R.  11  W.  (Montgomery  Township). 
According  to  this  explanation  the  Flat  Rock  and  Parker  pools  are  sand 
bars,  probably  of  the  same  age  ;  the  Birds  pool  is  a  larger  bar  parallel  to 
the  first  and  built  presumably  at  a  later  time  farther  off  shore.  The  smaller 
and  more  irregular  pools  may  be  river-channel  deposits,  portions  of  a  delta 
top  or  front;  smaller,  more  irregular  bars,  or  lagoon  delta  deposits  formed 
opposite  the  mouths  of  tidal  inlets.  The  deep  channels  revealed  in  the 
southern  parts  of  the  New  Hebron  and  the  Weger  pools  may  be  deep 


138 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


river  channels  or  possibly  deep  basins  analogous  to  those  produced  by 
tidal  scour  at  the  inlets  which  interrupt  the  continuity  of  sand  bars. 

If  the  Robinson  sand  formation  has  originated  in  this  way,  the  sands 
between  the  reefs  should  be  expected  to  be  thin  or  absent  and  to  lie  at  lev¬ 
els  several  feet  lower  than  the  sands  of  the  same  age  in  the  reefs.  These 
inter-reef  areas  should  have  been  filled  on  the  lagoon  side  with  mud  and 
irregular  lenses  of  sand ;  on  the  ocean  side  by  more  evenly  distributed 
sand  or  sandy  mud.  The  conditions  actually  found  in  the  areas  between 
the  reefs,  in  so  far  as  they  have  been  explored  by  the  drill,  meet  these 
expectations. 

Since  the  distribution  of  the  formations  at  the  horizon  of  the  Robin¬ 
son  sand,  as  revealed  by  the  well  records,  corresponds  very  closely  with 
the  conditions  found  in  connection  with  modern  deltas  built  into  seas  in 
which  waves  are  moderately  active  it  is  believed  that  such  an  explana¬ 
tion  of  the  origin  of  the  rocks  of  this  horizon  accords  best  with  the  ob¬ 
served  facts.  Certain  characteristics  of  the  sand  beds  indicate  that  the  delta 
was  built  out  from  the  northwest,  and  that  the  open  sea  lay  to  the  south¬ 
east  when  these  deposits  were  being  laid  down  in  upper  Pottsville  time. 

Prospects  of  Further  Oil  Development  in  Robinson  Sand 

Since  the  productive  areas  are  dependent  on  the  presence  of  local 
thick  masses  of  sandstone,  and  since  the  formations  involved  seem  to  be 
deltas  and  sand  reefs  (formations  which  are  notable  for  their  irregular¬ 
ity),  it  is  clear  that  no  safe  prediction  of  the  presence  or  absence  of  oil¬ 
bearing  sands  can  be  made  in  advance  of  drilling.  Where  structure  alone 
controls  the  distribution  of  the  oil,  the  geologist,  by  studying  the  structure 
of  the  overlying  rocks,  is  often  in  a  position  to  predict  new  developments, 
but  he  is  helpless  where  the  presence  or  absence  of  lenticular  sand  is  the 
determining  factor  which  governs  the  accumulation  of  the  oil.  For  these 
reasons  no  attempt  is  made  to  outline  other  areas  within  the  quadrangle 
which  might  be  found  productive.  Instead  a  map  (PI.  YII)  has  been 
prepared  to  show  the  areas  in  which  the  horizon  of  the  Robinson  sand 
lias  been  tested  and  the  location  and  depth  of  scattered  wells  which  have 
penetrated  deep  enough  to  test  this  sand.  Owing  to  the  “spotty”  charac¬ 
ter  of  the  producing  sands,  it  should  be  borne  in  mind,  however,  that  no 
area  may  be  condemned  until  it  has  actually  been  tested  by  a  reasonable 
number  of  wells.  Several  of  the  smaller  pools  are  of  such  local  extent 
that,  they  might  readily  have  been  missed  even  by  moderately  close  wildcat 
drilling.  Even  pools  as  large  as  that  at  New  Hebron  might  readily  have 
been  overlooked.  In  fact,  after  the  first  successful  well  was  drilled,  the 
next  two  or  three  to  be  completed  proved  dry,  and  it  was  only  by  persist¬ 
ence  that  the  field  was  finally  developed.  In  the  absence  of  test  holes  there 
is  nothing  to  indicate  that  any  part  of  the  quadrangle  might  not  prove 
productive,  whereas  on  the  other  hand  there  is  nothing  to  indicate  the 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  VII 


R.  10  W. 


+<m - - 

1 - 

5 

Id 

T.  6  N. 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


BULLETIN  NO.  33.  PLATE  VII 


Producing  oil 
well 


Abandoned  oil 
well 


Dry  hole 


Qaa  well 


Abandoned  gas 
well 


Area*  In  which 
Robinson 
sand  In  tested 
by  closely 
spaced  wells 


Area  being 
tested  ut  close 
of  field  sea¬ 
son.  1915 


Map  showing  drill  holes  to  Robinson  sand  in  Birds  quadrangle 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


139 


reverse.  Should  a  successful  wildcat  well  be  found,  it  is  believed  that  a 
second  well  on  an  adjoining  location  would  be  more  likely  to  be  success¬ 
ful  than  one  one-half  mile  or  more  distant,  because  the  latter  might  be 
entirely  outside  the  productive  area. 

In  connection  with  the  description  of  the  various  pools  certain  places 
were  mentioned  where  it  seems  that  the  possible  productive  territory  has 
not  been  entirely  drilled.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned  the  extreme 
southwestern  end  of  the  Parker  pool  and  the  west  side  of  the  southern 
half  of  the  Weger  pool.  It  is  also  possible  that  the  main  linear  pools 
may  be  found  to  continue  beyond  the  limits  now  known. 

Character  of  Oil 

The  oil  from  the  Flat  Rock  pool,  particularly  from  its  eastern  end, 
is  noted  for  its  high  specific  gravity.  The  gravity  increases  toward  the 
eastern  end  of  the  pool  where  it  is  as  high  as  22.3°  Beaume8,  as  compared 
with  35°  Beaume  for  the  oil  from  the  Hardinville  quadrangle  ten  or  twelve 
miles  to  the  west.  In  the  Weger  pool,  also,  marked  differences  in  gravity 
have  been  noticed.  Mr.  Claud  Duffy  operating  in  the  Weger  pool  is 
authority  for  the  statement  that  along  the  north  line  of  sections  19  and  24, 
Honey  Creek  Township,  the  oil  becomes  lighter  as  one  passes  from  east 
to  west,  testing  28°  or  29°  Beaume  in  the  northwest  corner  of  section  19 
and  34°  Beaume  in  the  Nuttall  wells  in  the  NW.  34  NE.  34  sec.  24.  The 
change  is  first  noticed  in  the  J.  O.  Weger  well  No.  3.  A  geologic  profile 
along  this  line  (PI.  V,  M)  brings  out  the  fact  that  at  the  eastern  end 
where  the  oil  is  heavy  the  oil  sand  is  thick  at  the  top  and  is  overlain  di¬ 
rectly  by  a  gas  sand.  Farther  west  where  the  light  oil  occurs  the  oil  sand 
is  separated  from  the  overlying  gas  sand  by  18  feet  of  very  compact,  hard, 
blue  shale  (“slate”)  and  by  about  14  feet  of  gray,  micaceous  sandstone. 
Near  the  point  where  the  change  in  gravity  is  noticed  the  oil  sand  becomes 
very  thin — only  about  2  feet  thick.  Thus  the  two  areas  are  partially, 
though  probably  not  entirely,  disconnected.  Similarly  in  the  eastern  half 
of  the  Flat  Rock  pool  there  is  a  gas  sand  above  and  directly  connected 
with  the  oil  sand.  These  relationships  suggest  the  theory  that  the  cause 
of  the  heavy  oil  is  the  evaporation  of  the  lighter  constituents  and  their 
escape  into  the  overlying  gas  sands,  leaving  behind  the  heavier  residue.  A 
profile  section  along  the  axis  of  the  Flat  Rock  pool  (PI.  V,  I)  was  drawn 
for  the  purpose  of  testing  the  theory  that  the  heavy  oil  at  the  eastern  end 
of  the  pool  might  be  due  to  a  rise  of  the  axis  toward  the  west  and  a  migra¬ 
tion  of  the  lighter  oil  toward  the  higher  structures  and  of  the  heavier  oil 
toward  the  lower  eastern  end.  The  section,  however,  reveals  the  fact  that 
the  axis  of  the  productive  pool  is  highest  in  the  center  and  near  its  eastern 
rather  than  its  western  end.  There  seems  to  be  no  basis  for  the  belief  that 

sDay,  David  T.,  Analyses  of  petroleum  from  various  parts  of  the  United  States:  U.  S. 
Geol.  Survey  Mineral  Resources,  1913,  pt.  2,  p.  1,182,  1914. 


140 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


the  differences  in  gravity  are  due  to  migration  along  the  axis  of  the  pool. 
It  seems  still  less  likely  that  the  lighter  oil  has  migrated  entirely  outside 
the  limits  of  the  pool  to  the  region  of  lighter  oil  in  the  Hardinville  quad¬ 
rangle  to  the  west,  since  there  is  apparently  no  connection  between  the 
Flat  Rock  pool  and  those  farther  west. 

In  this  connection  it  is  significant  that  the  oil  from  the  relatively  high 
sand  in  the  small  pool  a  quarter  of  a  mile  north  of  the  center  of  sec.  20, 
T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.,  is  relatively  light,  also  that  in  certain  places  in  the 
Hardinville  quadrangle  heavy  oil  occurs  in  certain  lower  sands  recently 
discovered  while  the  oil  in  the  upper  sands  is  light.  A  detailed  field  study 
of  the  gravity  of  the  oil  promises  results  of  value  if  correlated  with  the 
geological  conditions  in  each  case. 

Salt  Water  Phenomena 

An  investigation  of  the  water  phenomena  of  the  oil  sands  was  under¬ 
taken  in  the  hope  that  it  might  reveal  the  broad  relationships  between  the 
extent  and  depth  of  water  saturation  and  the  distribution  of  oil  and  gas  in 
the  sands.  Over  the  entire  quadrangle  water-bearing  sands  are  encoun¬ 
tered  at  various  levels  above  the  Robinson  sand.  Of  these  higher  water 
sands  the  most  conspicuous  is  the  heavy,  locally  gas-bearing  sand  which  lies 
between  1,300  and  1,430  feet  above  datum.  The  data  at  hand  do  not  per¬ 
mit  description  of  the  water  conditions  in  these  higher  sands. 

The  data  for  each  pool  in  the  Robinson  sand  are  here  presented  in 
summary  form.  In  the  western  and  central  parts  of  the  Birds  pool  the 
line  of  saturation  appears  to  lie  very  uniformly  at  about  1,050  feet  above 
datum,  as  is  indicated  by  the  uniform  depth  of  the  wells  and  by  definite 
mention  of  water  in  several  of  the  logs.  In  the  eastern  and  southeastern 
parts  of  the  pool  the  line  of  saturation  stands  10  to  15  feet  higher — namely, 
at  1,060  to  1,065  feet  above  datum.  For  the  extreme  eastern  end  of  the 
pool  in  sec.  7,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W.,  no  data  are  at  hand. 

In  the  Weger  pool  the  water  lies  at  various  levels  between  1,030  and 
1,050  feet.  The  general  average  for  the  pool  is  1,040  to  1,045  feet.  Be¬ 
tween  the  Weger  and  the  Birds  pools  the  outlier  in  secs.  17,  18.  19  and 
20,  T.  5  N.,  R.  11  W.,  shows  water  only  in  the  bottom  of  certain  low 
places  in  the  base  of  the  sand  at  elevations  of  about  1,040  feet. 

In  the  main  body  of  the  Parker  pool  the  water  level  is  more  or  less 
uneven.  In  general  it  lies  between  1,035  and  1,050  feet.  In  detail  it  seems 
to  be  controlled  by  some  factor  other  than  hydrostatic  pressure,  for  at  the 
southeastern  side  of  the  pool  the  level  of  the  water  line  descends  almost 
parallel  to  the  top  of  the  sand.  The  lenticular  western  end  of  the  Parker 
pool  and  its  outlier  in  sec.  9,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Honey  Creek  Town¬ 
ship),  show  water  in  the  bottom  of  the  lenses  at  various  levels.  The  indi¬ 
cations  there  are  that  each  lens  is  independent  of  the  others. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


141 


In  the  Flat  Rock  pool  there  is  considerable  difference  in  level  between 
different  parts.  In  the  main  body  of  the  southern  end  of  the  pool,  north¬ 
west  of  Flat  Rock,  the  water  line  lies  at  1,060  to  1,065  feet.  In  the  narrow 
middle  portion,  near  the  SW.  cor.  sec.  29,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Montgom¬ 
ery  Township),  it  is  about  1,060  feet,  but  in  the  Fliggins  pool  near  the 
NE.  cor.  sec.  29,  and  SE.  cor.  sec.  20,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Montgomery 
Township),  the  elevation  is  1,072  to  1,075  feet.  A  short  distance  farther 
east  on  a  low  terrace  on  the  A.  M.  Welch  farm  in  section  21,  the  water 
lies  at  1,040  to  1,045  feet.  Evidently  there  is  not  free  connection  between 
the  sands  on  the  Higgins  farm  and  either  those  on  the  terrace  to  the 
east  or  those  in  the  main  part  of  the  Flat  Rock  pool  to  the  southwest.  Of 
the  smaller  productive  areas,  the  Swearingen  pool  at  the  common  corner 
of  secs.  17,  18,  19,  and  20,  T.  6  N.,  R.  11  W.,  shows  only  gas,  and  no 
water  is  reported  in  the  logs.  The  wells  end  5  to  15  feet  below  the  top 
of  the  sand.  One  of  the  wells  struck  a  show  of  oil  at  1,044  feet  above 
datum  but  was  shot  into  water  and  abandoned.  It  appears  therefore  that 
the  water  level  there  is  about  1,040  feet  and  that  there  is  a  little  oil  on 
the  top  of  the  water.  In  the  Allison  pool,  sec.  12,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W., 
the  water  is  found  at  various  levels  ranging  from  1,045  to  1,070  feet.  The 
majority  of  the  wells  show  water  at  about  1,055  feet.  The  wells  in  the 
Chapman  pool  yield  no  reliable  data  on  the  water  problem.  It  appears, 
however,  that  at  least  above  1,050  feet  no  water  is  present  in  the  sands. 

The  Jackson  pool  is  remarkable  in  that  the  water  level  is  considerably 
lower  than  elsewhere,  and  that  most  of  the  oil  is  produced  from  levels 
below  that  of  water  saturation  over  the  rest  of  the  quadrangle — namely, 
1,030  to  1,040  feet.  The  water  level,  as  recorded  in  the  records  of  the 
Jackson  pool,  lies  between  995  and  1,021  feet  above  datum.  In  the  major¬ 
ity  of  the  wells  it  is  very  close  to  1,000  feet. 

The  New  Hebron  pool  appears  to  be  underlain  by  water-bearing  sand 
at  985  to  1,030  feet  above  datum  wherever  wells  have  penetrated  to  this 
depth.  This  water,  however,  is  in  sand  30  to  50  feet  below  that  which 
produces  the  oil.  The  oil  sand  appears  to  be  entirely  dry.  Only  in  the 
western  part  of  the  pool  where  the  sand  lenses  are  notably  irregular  was 
water  reported  at  an  elevation  of  1,063  feet  in  the  bottom  of  one  of  the 
sand  lenses.  That  this  occurrence  was  governed  by  the  local  lens  in  which 
it  appeared,  is  indicated  by  the  fact  that  this  water  lay  15  feet  above  gas 
and  oil  in  wells  about  1,500  feet  distant. 

As  a  generalized  statement  it  may  be  said  that  the  level  of  water  sat¬ 
uration  in  the  Robinson  sand  within  the  Birds  quadrangle  is  approximately 
1,050  feet  above  datum,  or  450  feet  below  sea  level.  The  water  level  is 
not  the  same  in  all  pools  nor  in  all  parts  of  a  single  large  pool,  such  as 
the  Flat  Rock  or  the  Birds  pools.  In  different  pools  the  general  level  ranges 
from  1,000  feet  to  1,075  feet  above  datum.  It  appears,  therefore,  that 


142 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


whereas  within  this  range  there  may  be  said  to  be  a  general  level  of  water 
saturation,  there  is  considerable  irregularity.  This  feature,  as  also  the 
distribution  of  the  oil  sand,  indicates  that  the  various  pools  are  to  a  greater 
or  less  extent  independent  of  one  another.  Between  the  producing  pools, 
test  wells  encounter  water  at  various  levels  between  1,050  and  960  feet 
above  datum.  No  general  rule  for  its  occurrence  is,  however,  apparent. 

Relation  of  Water  Conditions  to  Origin  of  Oil 

Since  the  two  independent  lines  of  evidence  outlined  above  agree  in 
indicating  that  there  is  little  if  any  connection  between  the  different  pools, 
it  appears  that  the  oil  could  not  have  migrated  very  far  laterally  under 
the  influence  of  salt  water.  Migration  for  long  distances  up  the  dip  of 
the  rock  toward  the  higher  structures,  as  urged  by  Blatchley9,  is  difficult 
to  comprehend  in  cases  like  that  under  consideration  in  which  there  appears 
to  be  no  continuous  bed  of  sand  up  which  the  oil  could  have  migrated. 
The  observed  relations  of  the  sands  to  each  other  and  to  the  level  of  salt 
water  in  the  various  pools  seems  to  the  writer  to  suggest  strongly  that  the 
oil  has  not  migrated  for  any  great  distance  laterally,  whatever  may  have 
been  the  extent  of  its  vertical  migration.  Furthermore,  the  presence  of 
both  oil  and  water  in  small  local  lenses  apparently  disconnected  from  other 
oil-bearing  sands  seems  likewise  to  point  to  the  conclusion  that  the  oil 
has  not  migrated,  at  least  laterally,  for  any  great  distance. 

DEEP  WELLS 
Locations 

On  the  map  (Fig.  13)  are  shown  all  the  wells  which  are  known  to 
have  been  drilled  deep  enough  to  test  the  lower  sands  which  have  been 
found  productive  in  neighboring  quadrangles.  In  the  Birds  quadrangle  no 
successful  deep  wells  have  as  yet  been  drilled,  though  a  well  on  the  Lagow 
farm,  secs.  31,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W.,  drilled  in  the  spring  of  1916,  produced 
the  first  day  14  barrels  of  oil  from  the  McClosky  horizon.  The  well  later 
developed  much  water  and  was  abandoned.  In  several  wells,  hcnvever,  a 
showing  of  oil  or  gas  has  been  found.  These  are  listed  below,  and  the 
horizon  of  the  oil  showing  is  indicated. 

1.  W.  T.  Highsmith,  NW.  sec.  14,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.,  at  470  feet  above 

datum  (Tracey  or  McClosky). 

2.  Wash  Parker  No.  7,  NE.  *4  sec.  3,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.,  at  495  feet  above 

datum.  (In  this  well  there  was  a  show  of  oil  with  gas  100  feet  below 
the  top  of  the  Chester,  50  feet  above  the  top  of  the  “Big  Lime’’.  The 
horizon  is  probably  Tracey.) 

3.  E.  A.  Young  No.  1,  NE.  l/^  sec.  10,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.,  at  551  feet  above 

datum  (Chester). 

oBlatchley,  R.  S.,  Oil  in  Crawford  and  Lawrence  counties:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull. 
22,  p.  104,  1913. 


-<J>-  ro 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


143 


x  ot 


-6-  W.  T.  Highsmith 
,1940 


S.  J.  Parker 
2056 


55 


C.  C.  Wheeler  -<^- 
1646 


5 

181 


50' 


_<^J.  Wesley 

^  1570  Highsmith 

2278  W  Parker  1695 

-<J>-  E.  A.  Young 
1575 


39 

-<>-  H.  Parker 
1643 

1  W.  H.  Parker 

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,  1613 


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1426 


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+  W. 


A.  Lagow 


-4>-  J.  C.  Weger 
1875 


T77T 


G.  W.  Mills 
1450 


<^-  W  O.  Pinkstaff 
852 


-<>-  F.  K.  Miller 
1850 


C 

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in 

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40' 


Scale  of  miles 


45' 


87  30 


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Fig.  13. — Map  showing  wells  which  penetrate  Mississippian  rocks. 


144 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


4.  John  Wesley  No.  2  NW.  %  sec.  2,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.,  at  550  feet  above 

datum  (Chester). 

5.  S.  J.  Parker  No.  2,  SW.  34  sec.  28,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.,  at  487  feet  (probably 

Chester).  There  was  also  a  show  of  green  oil  in  limestone  at  -22  feet 

or  2,030  feet  below  the  surface  (St.  Louis). 

6.  W.  O.  Pinkstaff,  NW.  34  sec.  8,  T.  4  N.,  R.  11  W.,  Bond  Township,  at  258 

feet.  (Some  oil  in  sandy  lime:  McClosky.) 

7.  W.  A.  Lagow,  NE.  34  NE.  34  sec.  31,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W.  (Russell  Township), 

a  14-barrel  well  (later  abandoned).  Oil  at  338  feet  above  datum  (Mc¬ 
Closky)  . 

8.  F.  K.  Miller,  NW.  cor.  sec.  11,  T.  4  N.,  R.  11  W. ;  a  showing  of  green  oil 

at  326  feet  above  datum  (McClosky). 

Structure  of  Lower  Beds 

Since  there  are  few  wells  deeper  than  the  Robinson  sand  horizon  in 
the  Birds  quadrangle,  the  discussion  of  the  structure  of  the  deeper  rocks 
is  based  on  a  small  number  of  records.  The  available  data  indicate  that 
a  comparatively  sharp  monocline,  extending  southeastward  from  the  west¬ 
ern  edge  of  the  map  at  about  latitude  38°  50'  to  near  the  center  of  the  south 
line  of  the  quadrangle,  separates  a  low  basin  on  the  southwest,  occupying 
all  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  quadrangle,  from  a  relatively  high,  nearly 
flat  area  which  occupies  all  of  the  quadrangle  north  and  northeast  of  the 
monocline.  This  monocline  is  without  doubt  a  continuation  of  the  one 
recognized  in  the  Hardinville  quadrangle  as  bounding  the  Robinson  oil 
pool  on  the  west. 

The  facts  on  which  the  preceding  summary  statement  of  the  structure 
is  based  are  as  follows :  In  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  quadrangle 
at  least  6  deep  wells  have  been  drilled.  In  one  of  these,  the  Dickerson 
well,  near  the  south  center  of  sec.  22,  T.  4  N.,  R.  12  W.,  a  sand,  prob¬ 
ably  the  Kirkwood  lying  beneath  two  beds  of  red  shale  was  encountered 
at  a  depth  of  240  feet  above  datum,  or  1,260  feet  below  sea  level.  The  well 
ended  in  sand  at  1,300  feet  below  the  sea.  Another  well  (J.  B.  Robinson, 
log  published  herewith  on  a  previous  page)  in  the  SW.  J4  NE.  Y\  sec. 
25,  T.  4  N.,  R.  12  W.,  penetrated  to  a  depth  of  1,892  feet,  or  23  feet 
above  datum,  and  ended  in  a  sand  probably  Kirkwood.  The  top  of  the 
Ste.  Genevieve  formation,  or  “Big  lime”,  was  not  reached  in  either  well. 

To  the  north  of  the  assumed  line  of  monoclinal  folding,  every  well 
of  which  a  record  is  available  penetrated  the  “Big  Lime”  at  elevations 
between  378  and  475  feet  above  datum.  The  locations  of  these  wells  with 
the  elevations  above  datum  of  the  top  of  the  “Big  Lime”  (Ste.  Genevieve) 
are  tabulated  below.  The  first  in  the  list  is  only  3J4  miles  north  of  the 
well  in  section  25  already  mentioned  (J.  B.  Robinson),  which  at  23  feet 
above  datum  was  still  above  the  Ste.  Genevieve. 

1.  NW.  34  sec.  8,  T.  4  N.,  R.  11  W„  W.  O.  Pinkstaff,  378  feet  above  datum. 

2.  NW.  cor.  sec.  11,  T.  4  N.,  R.  11  W.,  F.  K.  Miller,  412  feet  above  datum. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  BIRDS  QUADRANGLE 


145 


3.  NE.  34  NE.  34  sec.  31,  T.  5  N.,  R.  10  W.,  W.  A.  Lagow,  443  feet  above 

datum. 

4.  SW.  cor.  NE.  34  sec.  3,  T.  5  N.,  R.  12  W.,  Wash  Parker,  460  feet  above 

datum. 

5.  NW.  34  sec.  14,  T.  6  N.,  R.  12  W.,  W.  T.  Highsmith,  475  feet  above  datum. 

These  figures  indicate  that  north  of  the  monocline,  the  Mississippian 
rocks  lie  approximately  hat ;  but  have  a  slight  dip  toward  the  east  or 
southeast.  As  has  already  been  shown,  the  data  yielded  by  the  wells 
which  penetrate  the  Robinson  sand  in  the  Birds  quadrangle  prove  that  sand 
to  lie  essentially  hat  over  the  entire  northern  two-thirds  of  the  area.  Inas¬ 
much  as  the  surface  rocks  reveal  only  slight  irregularities  in  structure, 
whereas  the  Mississippian  rocks  show  differences  in  elevation  of  over  400 
feet  in  the  southern  part  of  the  quadrangle,  the  existence  of  a  great  un¬ 
conformity  between  the  two  is  very  clearly  indicated. 

The  absence,  in  the  wells  which  reveal  the  “Big  Lime”  at  elevations 
of  400  feet  or  more  above  datum  or  recognizable  representatives,  of  any 
but  the  basal  rocks  of  the  Chester  group  indicates  that  the  major  uncon¬ 
formity  is  between  the  top  of  the  Mississippian  series  and  the  base  of  the 
Pennsylvanian  series.  This  interpretation  harmonizes  with  the  evidence 
of  unconformity  at  this  horizon  yielded  by  the  fact  that  south  of  this 
area  in  the  southern  part  of  the  Vincennes  quadrangle,  the  thickness  of  the 
Chester  beds  occupying  the  interval  between  the  “Big  Lime”  and  the  base 
of  the  Pottsville  increases,  wedge-like,  toward  the  south. 

Oil  Possibilities  of  the  Deeper  Rocks 

North  of  the  line  of  monoclinal  folding  mentioned  in  preceding  para¬ 
graphs,  the  Mississippian  rocks  seem  to  he  high  and  comparatively  flat. 
As  explained  above,  the  data  at  hand  indicate  that  the  upper  beds  of  the 
Chester  group  are  missing.  If  this  interpretation  is  correct,  the  Kirkwood 
sand,  one  of  the  most  persistent  and  reliable  oil  horizons  in  the  Missis¬ 
sippian  series,  should  be  absent  over  much  or  all  of  the  quadrangle.  The 
McClosky  and  probably  the  Tracey  sands  are,  however,  present.  Whether 
or  not  there  are  valuable  oil  pools  in  these  sands  is  believed  to  depend  on 
whether  there  are  small  local  domes  in  the  generally  flat-lying  rocks  which 
underlie  all  but  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  quadrangle.  The  presence 
or  absence  of  such  domes  can  not  be  predicted  in  advance  because  the 
slight  irregularities  in  the  surface  rocks  are  known  to  be  independent  of 
the  structure  of  the  deep  rocks. 

It  is  possible  that  small  oil  pools  in  the  Tracey  or  McClosky  sands 
will  be  discovered  within  the  quadrangle,  but  prospecting  must  be  blind, 
and  it  is  doubtful  whether  any  pools  that  may  be  found  will  repay  the 
cost  of  prospecting. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 

By  John  L.  Rich 

(In  cooperation  with  the  U.  S.  Geological  Survey) 


OUTLINE 

PAGE 

Introduction  .  148 

Scope  of  report .  148 

Field  work  . 148 

Acknowledgments  .  149 

Physiography  .  149 

Geology  .  150 

General  statement  .  150 

Mississippian  series  .  150 

St.  Louis  formation  .  150 

Ste.  Genevieve  formation .  156 

Chester  group  .  156 

Pennsylvanian  series  .  156 

Pottsville  formation  .  156 

Carbondale  formation  .  157 

McLeansboro  formation  .  157 

Quaternary  and  recent  rocks .  157 

Oil  and  gas .  158 

Main  field  .  158 

Productive  oil  sands .  158 

McClosky  sand  .  158 

Tracey  sand  .  160 

Kirkwood  sand  . 160 

Buchanan  sand  .  161 

Bridgeport  sand  .  162 

Shallow  sand  .  162 

Recent  developments  in  the  main  oil  field .  162 

General  statement  .  162 

McClosky  sand  .  163 

Tracey  sand  .  163 

Kirkwood  sand  .  163 

Buchanan  sand  .  163 

Bridgeport  sand  .  163 

Shallow  sand  .  164 

Oil  pools  developed  outside  the  main  field .  164 

General  statement  .  164 

Allendale  pool  .  164 

Billett  pool  .  166 

Hebert  pool  .  168 

Murphy  pool  .  168 

St.  Francisville  pool .  169 


(147) 


148 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


PAGE 

Structure  of  the  rocks  in  the  Vincennes  quadrangle  in  relation  to  the  ac¬ 


cumulation  of  oil  and  gas .  171 

Explanation  of  map .  171 

Structural  features  .  172 

Areas  favorable  for  further  drilling .  174 


ILLUSTRATIONS 

PLATE 

VIII.  Oil  fields  of  the  Vincennes  quadrangle . 

IX.  Oil  pools  in  Bridgeport,  Buchanan,  Kirkwood,  Tracey,  and  McClosky 

sands  . 

X.  A.  Profile  west  to  east  through  Murphy  pool,  showing  even  bedding 
of  the  McClosky  as  compared  with  more  irregular  Tracey, 
Kirkwood,  Buchanan,  and  Bridgeport  sands . 

B.  Section  along  north  line  of  sec.  13,  Lawrence  Township,  showing 

more  than  one  McClosky  oil  sand . 

C.  Section  west  to  east  across  productive  part  of  La  Salle  anticline 

along  first  tier  of  wells  south  of  center  of  secs.  27,  26,  and  25, 

T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  Includes  original  McClosky  well . 

FIGURE 

14.  Diagrammatic  illustration  of  the  probable  unconformable  relation  between 

the  Mississippian  rocks  at  the  south  end  of  the  oil  field .  170 


INTRODUCTION 

Scope  of  Report 

About  one-half  of  the  deep  oil  field  of  southeastern  Illinois  lies  within 
the  Vincennes  quadrangle.  This  field  was  described  in  detail  by  R.  S. 
Blatchley  in  1913  and  the  oil  development  to  July  1,  1911,  was  shown  on 
the  map  accompanying  his  report.1  Since  the  completion  of  the  field  work 
on  which  Blatchley’s  report  was  based,  there  has  been  a  considerable  ex¬ 
tension  of  the  oil  pools  within  the  quadrangle  and  four  important,  though 
small,  new  pools  have  been  opened.  The  purpose  of  this  report  is  prim¬ 
arily  to  present  the  results  of  an  investigation  of  these  new  pools  and  of 
the  development  within  the  older  fields  since  July  1,  1911.  The  general 
geological  conditions  of  the  area  and  the  oil-bearing  formations  within 
the  older  field  will  receive  only  brief  description,  since  they  have  been 
thoroughly  covered  in  the  report  already  mentioned.  The  emphasis  will 
be  placed  upon  the  new  developments  since  1911. 

Field  Work 

The  wells  in  the  new  fields  were  located  and  their  elevations  deter¬ 
mined  in  September,  1915,  by  a  party  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  W.  S. 
Nelson  of  the  State  Geological  Survey.  The  plane  table  and  telescopic 
alidade  were  used.  The  locations  and  elevations  of  scattered  dry  holes 

lBlatchley.  R.  S.,  Oil  fields  of  Crawford  and  Lawrence  counties:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  22,  1913. 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  VIII 


Producing  oil  well 

Abandoned  oil 
well 

Dry  hole 

Gas  well 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  VIII 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


POOL 


>oh.o61 


BaxullJ  ill 


r&  n.12  w.  ■T  u^*“' 

R.B. Marshall  Chief  Geographer. 

W  H.Herron,  Geographer  in  charge 

Topography  by  Freni*  Tweec\y,C.LSadler.Che8-HerTmann.Jr,. 
LXl.ee, W.S  Gehrea,  and  J.B  Leavitt. 

Control  by  Corpa  of  Engineers  U  S. Army. Coast  and  Geodetrc 
J. R. Ellis, C.B. Kendall, Geo.T. Ha wl»i ns, H.W  FVabody. 
R.G.CIinite,and  S-Lf^rfeor 
Surveyed  in  1911*1913. 


the  Vincennes  quadrangle 


f*k 

r 

* 

a 

2 

OTL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


149 


and  of  the  wells  within  the  main  oil  field  were  determined  by  pacing  and 
hand  level.  The  work  was  done  by  W.  S.  Nelson,  E.  F.  Relinquish  Mason 
K.  Read,  and  the  writer.  All  of  the  scattered  dry  holes  and  many  of  the 
wells  within  the  producing  area  were  thus  definitely  located,  but  time  did 
not  permit  the  location  of  all  the  latter.  The  remainder  have  been  located 
from  the  map  of  the  Ohio  Oil  Company.  Their  elevations  were  deter¬ 
mined  approximately  by  reference  to  the  United  States  Geological  Survey 
topographic  map  of  the  region. 

Acknowledgments 

Grateful  acknowledgment  is  made  to  one  and  all  of  the  oil  companies 
and  independent  operators  in  the  field  who  have  furnished  records  and 
other  data  indispensable  for  the  preparation  of  the  report.  To  Mr.  W. 
S.  Nelson  and  to  the  other  members  of  the  surveying  party,  grateful 
acknowledgment  is  also  made.  The  writer  has  incorporated  the  substance 
and  part  of  the  actual  wording  of  an  unpublished  manuscript  on  the  oil 
and  gas  resources  of  the  Sumner  and  Vincennes  quadrangles  prepared  by 
Mr.  R.  S.  Blatchley  for  use  in  a  United  States  Geological  Survey  folio 
now  in  preparation.  The  map  herewith  presented  (Plate  VIII)  is  a 
composite.  It  represents  largely  the  work  of  Mr.  Blatchley,  who  in  1913 
prepared  a  similar  map  for  insertion  in  the  United  States  Geological  Sur¬ 
vey  folio.  To  Mr.  Blatchley's  map  the  new  data  were  added  and  what¬ 
ever  changes  were  necessary  as  a  result  of  the  additional  information  were 
made  by  the  writer.  The  contouring,  except  in  the  new  pools,  is  essen¬ 
tially  the  work  of  Mr.  Blatchley.  The  writer  has  modified  his  contours 
only  with  respect  to  the  newer  data. 

PHYSIOGRAPHY 

The  physical  configuration  of  the  Vincennes  quadrangle  is  dominated 
by  the  plains,  terraces,  and  bluffs  of  Wabash  River  which  crosses  the 
quadrangle  from  northeast  to  southwest,  and  by  those  of  Embarrass  River 
which  enters  near  the  northwest  corner  and  joins  the  Wabash  a  little  north 
of  the  center  of  the  sheet.  Flood  plains  and  terraces  of  these  two  streams, 
together  with  accordant  plains  along  Raccoon  Creek  and  other  tributaries, 
cover  nearly  three-fourths  of  the  quadrangle.  The  remaining  fourth  is  oc¬ 
cupied  by  low,  rolling  hills  whose  relief  ranges  between  50  and  100  feet. 
The  greater  part  of  the  oil  field  is  situated  on  the  hills  south  of  Lawrence- 
ville.  The  Allendale  field,  also  is  on  the  group  of  low  hills  west  of  that 
town. 

The  physical  features  of  the  quadrangle  are,  on  the  whole,  favorable 
for  the  operations  connected  with  the  development  of  its  oil  resources. 
The  fact  that  the  greater  part  of  the  field  lies  in  the  hilly  parts  of  the 
quadrangle  greatly  facilitates  the  transportation  of  the  oil,  since  the 
topography  permits  a  gravity  system  to  be  operated.  At  the  same  time 


150 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


the  topography  is  not  sufficiently  rough  to  interfere  seriously  with  pump¬ 
ing  the  wells  or  with  the  hauling  of  supplies. 

GEOLOGY 
General  Statement 

The  geological  formations  at  the  surface  and  in  the  wells  of  the 
Vincennes  quadrangle  belong  to  the  Mississippian  and  the  Pennsylvanian 
series  of  the  Paleozoic  group  and  to  the  Quaternary  and  Recent  groups. 
The  latter  groups  include  glacial  drift,  alluvium,  and  wind-blown  sand 
which  mantle  the  bed  rocks  of  the  region. 

Mississippian  Series 

The  Mississippian  rocks  are  the  oldest  and  deepest  of  those  here 
described.  In  this  part  of  the  State  three  formations  are  recognized :  the 
St.  Louis  at  the  base,  the  Ste.  Genevieve,  and  strata  of  the  Chester  group 
at  the  top.  The  Ste.  Genevieve  and  the  Chester  contain  important  oil 
horizons — the  former,  the  McClosky ;  the  latter  the  Tracey  and  the  Kirk¬ 
wood  sands. 


ST.  LOUIS  FORMATION 

The  St.  Louis  limestone  is  the  rock  penetrated  by  the  deepest  wells 
in  the  quadrangle.  It  is  a  hard,  light-blue  to  yellowish  limestone  in  part 
dolomitic  and  containing  some  chert.  A  well  recently  drilled  on  the  Col- 
lison  farm  (Collison  well  No.  2),  sec.  27,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Denison 
Township),  a  log  of  which  is  published  herewith,  penetrated  the  St.  Louis 
formation  to  a  depth  of  over  250  feet.  The  formation  consisted  of  lime 
throughout,  some  of  it  dolomitic  and  some  cherty,  but  mainly  pure  lime¬ 
stone.  The  rock  as  a  whole  was  very  hard,  but  occasional  softer  beds 
were  encountered.  The  latter  showed  oil  at  several  horizons  but  in  very 
small  quantities.  Other  wells  within  the  quadrangle  have  penetrated  as 
as  much  as  890  feet  of  St.  Louis  limestone.2  Nowhere  has  the  formation 
been  found  productive  of  oil  in  paying  quantities. 

2Blatchley,  R.  S.,  Oil  fields  of  Crawford  and  Lawrence  Counties:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  22,  p.  85,  1913. 

Fogf  of  Collison  well  No.  2,  NW.  34  NE.  sec.  2 7,  T .  2  N.  R.  12  W . 

(Elevation  443  feet) 


Thickness 

Depth 

Description  of  strata 

Feet 

Feet 

Quicksand  . 

.  99 

99 

Sand  (water)  . 

.  26 

125 

“Slate”  . 

.  185 

310 

Lime . 

.  15 

325 

Red  rock  . 

.  10 

335 

“Slate”  . 

.  115 

450 

OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE 


Description  of  strata 

Coal  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Sand  (water)  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Coal  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Sand  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  (broken)  . 

Lime . 

Lime  (broken)  . 

“Slate,”  black . 

Sand  (water)  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  (water)  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate” . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

Lime,  sandy  . 

Sand  (show  of  oil)  . 

Sand  (broken)  . 

Sand  and  shells  (water) 

Shale . 

“Slate”  . 

Limestone  (broken)  .... 
p 

Lime,  very  hard  . 

Sand  . 

Lime,  gritty  . 

Sand  (water)  . . 

“Slate”  . 


VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE  151 

Thickness  Depth 

Feet  Feet 

.  5  455 

.  45  500 

.  15  515 

.  10  525 

.  15  540 

.  5  545 

.  8  553 

.  7  560 

.  5  565 

.  95  660 

.  10  670 

.  8  678 

. 112  790 

.  5  795 

.  25  820 

.  8  828 

.  22  850 

.  50  900 

.  125  1025 

.  20  1045 

.  20  1065 

.  20  1085 

.  15  1100 

.  10  1110 

.  65  1175 

.  10  1185 

.  5  1190 

.  50  1240 

.  5  1245 

.  31  1276 

.  12  1288 

.  22  1310 

.  10  1320 

.  20  1340 

.  26  1366 

.  10  1376 

.  30  1406 

.  10  1416 

.  10  1426 

.  49  1475 

.  25  1500 

.  20  1520 

.  70  1590 

.  10  1600 

.  15  1615 

.  15  1630 

.  30  1660 

.  50  1710 

.  10  1720 


152 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Thickness  Depth 


Description  of  strata  Feet  Feet 

Lime .  23  1743 

“Slate”  .  47  1790 

Lime .  10  1800 

Broken .  30  1830 

Red  rock .  12  1842 

Lime,  very  sandy .  19  1861 

Sand  (and  wash  of  oil)  .  4  1865 

Sand  (water)  .  25  1890 

“Slate” .  2  1892 

Lime .  3  1895 

“Slate”  .  20  1915 

Lime .  25  1940 

“Slate”  .  15  1955 

Shale,  green .  15  1970 

Red  rock .  2  1972 

Sand,  brown  (show  of  black  oil) .  10  1982 

“Slate,”  black  .  17  1999 

Lime,  brown  (streaks  of  red  shale) .  66  2065 

Lime,  brown  .  54  2119 

Lime,  brown,  small  oolites  (green  oil) .  5  2124 

Lime,  blue,  hard .  8  2132 

Lime,  brown  (water,  little  black  oil) .  2  2134 

Lime,  brown,  hard .  9  2143 

Lime,  brown,  soft  (show  of  green  oil) .  2  2145 

Lime,  brown,  hard  .  10  2155 

Lime,  brown,  soft  (show  of  oil) .  5  2160 

Lime,  brown,  very  hard  .  9  2169 

Lime,  soft  (little  show  of  oil) .  2  2171 

Lime,  brown  (wash  of  oil  now  and  then) .  57  2228 

Lime,  brown  (showed  oil) .  2  2230 

Lime,  brown,  hard  .  15  2245 

Limestone,  gray,  white,  coarse .  10  2255 

Lime,  brown  (show  of  oil) .  15  2270 

Lime,  brown  (show  of  oil) .  20  2290 

Lime,  light  brown  .  10  2300 

?  7  2307 

Dolomite,  light  brown;  quartz  fragments .  43  2350 

Lime,  light  brown,  pure .  5  2355 

Lime,  a  little  chert,  light  brown .  10  2365 

Lime,  dolomitic,  light  brown .  10  2375 

Lime,  dolomitic,  light  brown;  some  chert .  15  2390 

?  29  2419 

Limestone,  dolomitic  .  6  2425 


Continued  in  limestone  to  a  little  over  2,500  feet;  at  bottom  struck  2^2  feet  of  “Blue 
Lick”  water. 


fThe  base  of  the  Pennsylvanian  series  is  believed  to  be  at  either  1,240  or  1,475  feet.  The 
sand,  with  a  showing  of  oil,  at  1,406  to  1,416  feet,  correlates  with  the  Biehl  sand  of  the  Allendale 
field.  The  sand  at  1,861  feet  is  believed  to  be  the  Kirkwood  and  that  at  2,119  the  McClosky. 
The  top  of  the  “big  lime”  is  at  some  point  between  2,000  and  2,065. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


153 


Log *  of  Jane  Jones  well  No.  7,  N.W.  x/\  N.W.  *4  sec •  28 ,  T.  2  N R.  11  W . 


(Elevation  409  feet) 


Description  of  strata 

Soil  . 

Sand  and  gravel . 

Sand . 

“Slate”  and  shells  . 

Lime . 

“Slate” . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

“Slate”  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

Gritty  lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime . 

“Slate”  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  (gritty) . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

Sand  (broken)  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  (gritty)  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  (broken)  . 

“Slate”  . 

Sand  . 

“Slate”  . 

Lime  (gritty)  . 


Thickness 

Depth 

Feet 

Feet 

8 

8 

16 

24 

71 

95 

.  115 

210 

3 

213 

4 

217 

11 

228 

12 

240 

90 

330 

6 

336 

49 

385 

30 

415 

85 

500 

6 

506 

.  225 

731 

6 

737 

13 

750 

6 

756 

30 

786 

6 

792 

10 

802 

10 

812 

70 

882 

6 

888 

22 

910 

10 

920 

30 

950 

5 

955 

30 

985 

5 

990 

10 

1000 

3 

1003 

12 

1015 

15 

1030 

75 

1105 

20 

1125 

25 

1150 

25 

1175 

25 

1200 

25 

1225 

5 

1230 

10 

1240 

60 

1300 

30 

1330 

20 

1350 

21 

1371 

29 

1400 

154 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


Thickness 

Depth 

Description  of  strata 

Feet 

Feet 

“Slate”  . . 

.  6 

1406 

Lime  (gritty)  . 

.  19 

1425 

“Slate”  . 

.  20 

1445 

Sand  (water  at  1450) 

.  70 

1515 

Lime  . 

.  17 

1532 

“Slate”  . 

.  59 

1591 

Lime  (gritty)  . 

.  5 

1596 

Sand  . 

.  20 

1616 

Lime  (gritty)  . 

.  9 

1625 

“Slate”  . 

. . .  50 

1675 

Lime  . 

.  15 

1690 

“Slate”  . 

.  10 

1700 

“Slate,”  red  . 

.  2 

1702 

Lime  . 

.  13 

1715 

“Slate”  . 

.  15 

1730 

Lime  (gritty)  . 

.  10 

1740 

“Slate”  . 

.  10 

1750 

Lime . 

.  10 

1760 

Sand  . 

.  10 

1770 

“Slate”  . 

.  8 

1778 

Lime  . 

.  2 

1780 

“Slate”  . 

.  10 

1790 

Lime  (gritty)  . 

.  60 

1850 

Lime  changing  from  light 

to  dark  brown  and  black  from  1850  to  2565 ;  ‘ 

‘Blue  lick” 

water  at  2540  to  2560 ; 

little  water  at  1900;  small  show  of  oil  at  2150. 

*The  base  of  the 

Pennsylvanian  series  is  at  1,515  feet;  the  horizon  of  the  St. 

Francisville 

oil  is  between  1,790  and 

1,850 

feet. 

LogX  of  Nellie  Tracy  hole  No.  2, 

NE.  Lt  NE.  yX  sec.  13,  T.  3  N.,  R. 

12  W . 

(Elevation 

approximately  425) 

Thickness 

Depth 

Description  of  strata 

Feet 

Feet 

Lime  shell  . 

.  170 

170 

Sand  . 

.  70 

240 

Lime . 

.  15 

255 

“Slate”  . 

.  7 

262 

Big  lime  shell  . 

.  12 

274 

Red  rock  . 

.  10 

284 

Lime . 

.  6 

290 

“Slate”  . 

.  10 

300 

“Slate”  . 

.  200 

500 

Lime  . 

.  40 

540 

“Slate”  . 

.  35 

575 

Lime  . 

.  28 

603 

Sand  . 

.  23 

626 

“Slate”  . 

.  19 

645 

Salt  sand  (water)  .  . 

.  30 

675 

“Slate”  . 

.  10 

685 

“Slate,”  white  . 

.  10 

695 

Sand  . 

.  48 

743 

OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENN 

F.S  QUADRANGLE 

153 

Thickness 

Depth 

Description  of  strata 

Feet 

Feet 

“Slate”  . 

.  192 

935 

Sand  . 

.  15 

950 

“Slate”  . 

.  15 

965 

Bridgeport  sand  (water  at  985) . 

.  85 

1050 

“Slate”  . 

.  20 

1070 

Sand  . 

.  88 

1158 

“Slate”  . 

.  12 

1170 

Lime . 

.  10 

1180 

“Slate”  . 

.  5 

1185 

Lime  . 

.  13 

1198 

“Slate”  . 

.  20 

1218 

Lime . 

.  14 

1232 

“Slate”  . 

.  75 

1307 

Lime  . 

.  21 

1328 

“Slate”  . 

.  24 

1352 

Buchanan  sand  . 

.  23 

1375 

“Slate”  . 

.  11 

1386 

Lime  . 

.  9 

1395 

“Slate”  . 

.  5 

1400 

Lime . 

.  65 

1465 

“Slate”  . 

.  4 

1469 

Lime  . 

.  3 

1472 

“Slate”  . 

.  3 

1475 

Red  rock  . 

.  10 

1485 

“Slate”  . 

.  20 

1505 

Lime  . 

.  20 

1525 

“Slate”  . 

.  16 

1541 

Kirkwood  sand  . 

.  6 

1547 

“Slate”  . 

.  5 

1552 

Sand  . 

.  50 

1602 

Top  of  pay,  1573 

Bottom  of  pay,  1595 

“Slate”  . 

.  78 

1680 

Lime  . 

.  6 

1686 

“Slate”  . 

.  3 

1689 

Sand,  show  of  oil  (Tracev) . 

.  12 

1701 

“Slate”  . 

.  3 

1704 

Red  rock  . 

.  4 

1708 

Lime  . 

.  5 

1713 

“Slate”  . 

4 

1717 

Red  rock  . 

.  11 

1728 

“Slate”  . 

.  10 

1738 

Lime  . 

.  20 

1758 

“Slate”  . 

.  3 

1761 

Lime . 

.  19 

1780 

McClosky  sand  . 

.  4 

1784 

Lime  . 

.  53 

1837 

McClosky  sand  (lower) . 

.  2 

1839 

Lime  . 

.  116 

1955 

JThe  base  of  the  Pennsylvanian  series,  and  top  of  the  Mississippian  (Chester)  is  at  1,375 
feet;  the  top  of  the  “Big  Lime”  (Ste.  Genevieve)  is  at  1,761  feet. 


156 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


STE.  GENEVIEVE  FORMATION 

The  Ste.  Genevieve  limestone,  about  85  feet  thick,  overlies  the  St. 
Louis  formation  from  which  it  is  not  easily  distinguishable  in  well  rec¬ 
ords.  It  is,  however,  softer  than  the  St.  Louis  and  is  characterized  by 
oolitic  beds.  The  Ste.  Genevieve  limestone  is  one  of  the  most  important 
oil  horizons  in  the  State  in  being  the  source  of  the  McClosky  oil.  The  oil 
is  found  commonly  20  to  50  feet  below  the  top  of  the  formation,  though 
in  places  it  is  considerably  lower,  probably  in  distinct  lower  beds. 

The  Ste.  Genevieve  limestone  appears  to  be  very  evenly  bedded  in 
strong  contrast  to  the  overlying  formations  which  are  characteristically 
irregular.  This  feature  is  clearly  brought  out  on  the  profile  (PI.  X,  A) 
of  the  Murphy  oil  pool  which  presents  a  graphic  comparison  of  the  Mc¬ 
Closky  oil  horizon  in  the  Ste.  Genevieve  formation  with  the  Kirkwood, 
Buchanan,  and  Bridgeport  horizons. 

CHESTER  GROUP 

The  Chester  group  lies  unconformably  on  the  Ste.  Genevieve  in  such 
a  way  that  only  the  upper  part  is  present  in  this  area.  The  Chester  rocks 
consist  of  relatively  thin-bedded  limestone,  shale,  sandstone,  and  near  the 
base  thin  layers  of  “red  rock”  (red  shale).  Limestone  and  shale  predom¬ 
inate.  The  average  thickness  of  the  formation  in  this  region  is  365  feet 
with  a  range  of  295  to  440  feet.3  According  to  the  writer's  correlation, 
the  maximum  thickness  in  the  Allendale  field  is  about  550  feet.  The  top 
of  the  formation  is  uneven.  It  is  thought  to  represent  the  low  hills  and 
shallow  valleys  on  an  old  buried  land  surface.  Two  or  more  thin  beds  of 
red  shale  are  prominent  features  of  the  formation.  They  commonly  lie 
both  above  and  below  the  Kirkwood  sand. 

The  Chester  group  contains  two  important  oil-producing  horizons, 
the  Kirkwood  and  the  Tracey  sands.  The  former  averages  about  200 
feet;  and  the  latter,  near  the  base,  a  little  over  300  feet  below  the  top  of 
the  formation.  South  of  the  main  oil  field,  in  the  St.  Francisville  and 
Allendale  pools,  the  intervals  are  50  to  200  feet  greater. 

Pennsylvanian  Series 

The  Pennsylvanian  series  in  southeastern  Illinois  is  represented  by 
three  formations :  the  Pottsville  at  the  base,  the  Carbondale,  and  the 
McLeansboro.  The  latter  constitutes  the  bed  rock  at  the  surface  over  the 
entire  quadrangle.  The  lower  formations  are  known  only  from  well  rec¬ 
ords. 


POTTSVILLE  FORMATION 

The  Pottsville  formation  consists  mainly  of  sandstone  and  shale,  with 
a  few  thin  beds  of  limestone.  The  formation  is  300  to  600  feet  thick, 


3ldem,  p.  83. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


157 


averaging  about  450  feet.  It  is  thinnest  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  La 
Salle  anticline  and  thicker  toward  the  east  in  the  less-disturbed  area. 
Along  the  eastern  side  of  the  oil  field  its  average  thickness  is  about  500 
feet. 

The  Pottsville  formation  is  marked  by  two  prominent  sandstone  hor¬ 
izons,  the  Buchanan  sand  at  the  base  and  the  Bridgeport  sand  near  the 
top.  Both  are  very  massive  and  range  in  thickness  from  50  to  over  150 
feet,  averaging  at  least  100  feet.  Both  vary  greatly  in  thickness  from 
place  to  place  and  are  irregular  at  both  top  and  bottom.  The  Buchanan 
sand  is  the  basal  sandstone  of  the  formation  and  was  spread  out  along 
the  shores  of  the  sea  as  it  advanced  over  the  Chester  land  surface.  Over 
most  of  the  quadrangle  the  Buchanan  sand  contains  large  quantities  of 
salt  water.  Locally,  however,  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  structure  oil  is 
found  at  the  top  of  the  sand. 

The  Bridgeport  sand  corresponds  to  the  Robinson  sand  of  the  Birds 
and  Hardinville  quadrangles.  It  also  contains  large  quantities  of  salt 
water  over  most  of  the  area,  though  near  the  southern  end  of  the  main 
oil  field,  an  area  of  three  to  four  square  miles  is  productive  of  oil. 

CARBONDALE  FORMATION 

The  Carbondale  formation,  about  300  feet  thick,  overlies  the  Potts¬ 
ville.  It  contains  the  important  coal  beds  in  this  part  of  the  State  and 
consists  mainly  of  shale  with  some  sandstone,  thin  beds  of  limestone,  and 
coal.  The  “shallow”  sand  which  is  productive  of  oil  in  a  few  wells  at  the 
extreme  south  end  of  the  main  oil  field,  probably  lies  near  the  top  of  this 
formation. 


MCLEANSBORO  FORMATION 

The  McLeansboro  formation,  as  exposed  at  the  surface  and  encount¬ 
ered  in  the  wells,  consists  mainly  of  gray  to  black,  micaceous  shale  and 
shaly  sandstones,  massive  sandstones,  and  a  few  thin  beds  of  limestone. 
It  presents  no  features  worthy  of  special  mention  except  a  remarkably 
persistent  bed  of  red  shale  associated  with  thin  limestones  which  lies  ap¬ 
proximately  150  to  200  feet  above  the  base  of  the  formation. 

Quaternary  and  Recent  Rocks 

Glacial  drift,  alluvium,  loess,  and  wind-blown  sand  constitute  the 
rocks  of  Quaternary  and  Recent  age  within  the  quadrangle.  The  glacial 
drift  was  spread  out  as  a  mantle  of  varying  thickness  over  the  entire  area 
at  the  time  of  the  Illinoian  glacial  period.  The  drift  consists  mainly  of 
till  or  bowlder  clay,  a  compact  mixture  of  fine  clay  with  pebbles  and 
bowlders.  The  glacial  drift  is  encountered  at  all  points  within  the  quad¬ 
rangle  where  it  has  not  been  removed  by  stream  cutting.  The  common 
practice  in  drilling  oil  wells  is  to  extend  a  conductor  or  drive  pipe  through 


158 


YEAR  KOOK  FOR  1915 


the  drift  and  seat  it  upon  the  underlying  bed  rock.  The  length  of  drive 
pipe  necessary  varies  from  10  to  over  100  feet. 

A  large  part  of  the  quadrangle  is  occupied  by  the  flood  plains  and 
terraces  of  Wabash  and  Embarrass  rivers  and  by  alluvial  plains  which 
have  extended  up  the  streams  tributary  to  them  during  a  period  of  gen¬ 
eral  silting  up  of  the  rivers.  The  depth  of  alluvium,  as  revealed  by  the 
well  records,  varies  commonly  between  50  and  100  feet.  Quicksand  and 
gravel  are  the  commonest  constituents  of  the  alluvium  below  the  soil  zone, 
which  is  a  sandy  loam.  The  quicksand  sometimes  causes  considerable  dif¬ 
ficulty  in  starting  drilling  operations. 

Loess,  a  fine,  wind-blown  dust,  is  spread  out  in  a  bed  from  3  to  20 
or  more  feet  in  thickness  over  the  drift  in  all  parts  of  the  quadrangle  not 
occupied  by  recent  alluvium.  Loess  constitutes  the  soil  of  most  of  the 
western  part  of  the  quadrangle. 

Wind-blown  sand,  derived  apparently  from  the  flood  plains  of  Wabash 
and  Embarrass  rivers,  covers  considerable  areas  near  Allendale  and  St. 
Francisville,  a  small  area  northeast  of  Billtee,  and  the  bluff  along  the  east 
side  of  the  quadrangle  south  of  Vincennes. 

OIL  AND  GAS 
Main  Field 

PRODUCTIVE  OIL  SANDS 

Named  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  encountered  by  the  driller,  the 
productive  oil  horizons  of  the  Vincennes  quadrangle  are  the  “shallow” 
sand,  the  Bridgeport,  Buchanan,  Kirkwood,  Tracey,  and  McClosky  sands. 
The  position  of  each  of  these  in  the  geological  column  has  been  indicated 
in  preceding  paragraphs.  A  brief  description  of  each  and  of  its  develop¬ 
ment  within  the  quadrangle  is  here  presented.  For  a  more  detailed  ac¬ 
count  the  reader  is  referred  to  Blatchley’s  report  in  Bulletin  22  of  the 
State  Geological  Survey. 

MCCLOSKY  SAND 

“The  McClosky  sand  has  yielded  the  largest  initial  productions  of 
any  of  the  producing  sands  in  Illinois”.4  This  sand  has  yielded  several 
gushers,  notably  in  the  Murphy  pool,  to  be  described  in  detail  in  a  fol¬ 
lowing  section.  The  McClosky  oil  comes  from  a  thin  sandstone,  or  in 
places,  apparently  from  a  soft,  oolitic  limestone  in  the  upper  part  of  the 
Ste.  Genevieve  formation.  The  productive  horizon  is  commonly  thin, 
ranging  from  2  to  10  feet  in  the  Murphy  pool  and  averaging  not  more 
than  10  feet  over  the  entire  field.  It  is  clearly  not  a  single  bed  every¬ 
where.  It  is  rather  a  zone  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Ste.  Genevieve  forma¬ 
tion,  in  which  here  one,  there  another,  bed  carries  the  oil,  the  porosity  of 


4ldem,  page  113. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE  !5M 

the  rock  being  evidently  the  controlling  factor.  Within  this  zone,  which 
has  a  maximum  observed  thickness  of  80  feet,  one  to  three  oil-bearing 
horizons  are  reported.  In  nearby  wells  it  is  not  uncommonly  found  that 
in  one  well  the  upper  porous  zone  is  productive ;  in  another  the  lower. 

Localities  where  two  or  three  oil-bearing  beds  of  the  McClosky  have 
been  noted  are  in  secs.  12  and  13,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Lawrence  Town¬ 
ship)  ;  secs.  23  and  24,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Dennison  Township)  ;  and 
secs.  15,  22  and  23,  T.  3  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Allison  Township).  PI.  X,  B,  a 
section  along  the  north  line  of  sec.  13,  T.  3  XL,  R.  12  W.,  illustrates  this 
feature.  In  other  places,  notably  in  the  Murphy  pool,  a  single  productive 
bed  is  dominant,  though  even  here  a  tendency  to  multiplicity  is  apparent. 

This  multiple  character  of  the  McClosky  oil  horizon  makes  it  impos¬ 
sible  to  represent  accurately  its  structure  by  structure  contours,  and  it 
makes  inevitable  a  margin  of  error  of  approximately  80  feet  in  the  cor¬ 
relation  of  scattered  outside  wells  yielding  data  on  the  McClosky.  Never¬ 
theless,  where  a  single  bed  can  be  identified  over  a  considerable  area  the 
McClosky  is  found  to  be  much  more  uniform  than  any  of  the  higher  oil 
sands.  In  other  words,  the  Ste.  Genevieve  limestone  is  evenly  bedded  and 
differences  in  elevation  in  different  localities  represent  the  dip  of  the  rocks, 
not,  as  in  the  case  of  some  of  the  higher  sands,  merely  irregularities  in 
the  thickness  of  the  sand  bed.  The  depth  of  the  McClosky  horizon  below 
the  surface  of  the  ground  varies  with  the  surface  topography  and  with 
the  structure  of  the  underlying  rocks,  from  1,700  to  about  1,860  feet  for 
the  producing  territory.  These  depths  correspond  to  elevations  of  70  to 
260  feet  above  a  datum  plane  1,500  feet  below  sea  level.  This  variation 
is  due  mainly  to  the  dip  of  the  rock,  but  partly  to  the  compound  nature 
of  the  McClosky  horizon.  Outside  of  the  productive  territory,  in  scat¬ 
tered  dry  wells  off  the  anticline  (PI.  VIII),  the  depth  as  a  rule  is  greater. 

Though  many  of  the  McClosky  wells  have  shown  enormous  initial 
yields,  a  large  number  have  declined  rapidly,  and  many  others  have  been 
small  producers.  Owing  to  the  expense  of  drilling  the  deep  wells,  the 
latter  have  to  some  extent  offset  the  gain  from  the  more  prolific  wells. 

The  McClosky  oil  is  green,  with  a  large  sulphur  content,  and  its  gas 
has  a  rank  odor. 

The  McClosky  sand  is  productive  over  a  belt  from  one-half  mile  to 
two  miles  wide,  extending  north  and  south  through  the  principal  oil  field 
and  including  large  parts  of  secs.  14,  23,  25,  26,  35,  and  36,  T.  3  N.,  R. 
12  W.,  and  sec.  2,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12  W.,  and  in  several  small  outliers  in  the 
same  general  area.  Outside  the  main  field  a  small  pool  has  been  located 
in  the  SW.  cor.  sec.  17  and  the  NW.  cor.  sec.  20,  T.  3  N.,  R.  11  W. 
(Lawrence  Township),  and  in  secs.  15,  22,  and  23,  T.  3  XL,  W.  11  W., 
as  well  as  in  the  prolific  Murphy  pool  in  secs.  5  and  8,  T.  2  XL,  R.  11 
W.  (Dennison  Township). 


160 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


TRACEY  SAND 

The  original  Tracey  sand  developed  by  Busch  and  Everett  on  the 
Tracey  and  Seed  farms,  sec.  13,  Lawrence  Township,  has  on  investiga¬ 
tion  proved  to  be  McC'losky.  The  term  Tracey  has,  however,  persisted 
and  has  been  applied  to  a  sand  intermediate  between  the  McClosky  and 
the  Kirkwood.  The  designation  as  now  used  applies  to  a  soft,  calcareous 
sandstone,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Chester  group,  which  lies  on  the  aver¬ 
age  from  100  to  118  feet  above  the  upper  productive  horizon  of  the  Mc¬ 
Closky  sand.  The  Tracey  oil  horizon,  to  an  even  more  marked  degree  than 
the  underlying  McClosky  is  a  zone  in  which  sands  are  developed  irreg¬ 
ularly  and  discontinuously  rather  than  a  single  bed  of  sand.  The  horizon 
is  more  irregular  and  the  sandy  phases  are  less  continuous  over  the  field 
than  in  any  of  the  other  oil-bearing  horizons.  The  sand  rarely  attains  a 
thickness  of  more  than  50  feet.  The  Tracey  commonly  yields  a  “sour” 
or  sulphur  oil  of  high  gravity.  In  the  Vincennes  quadrangle  the  produc¬ 
tion  is  mainly  oil,  gas  being  subordinate,  but  at  the  northern  end  of  the 
field  in  the  Hardinville  quadrangle  gas  is  the  chief  product. 

Owing  probably  to  the  irregular  development  of  sands  at  the  Tracey 
horizon,  the  producing  areas  within  the  main  field  are  confined  mainly  to 
small  isolated  pools,  the  only  notable  exception  being  a  pool  which  covers 
about  three  square  miles  mainly  in  secs.  25,  26,  35,  and  36,  T.  3  N.,  R. 
12  W.,  and  the  NE.  Et  sec.  2,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12  W.  The  second  largest  pool 
lies  in  the  SW.  >4  sec.  11,  and  the  NW.  14  sec.  14.  and  adjacent  portions 
of  secs.  10  and  15,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W. ;  a  third  and  smaller  pool  has  been 
developed  in  the  western  part  of  sec.  23,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W. ;  and  there 
are  several  small  isolated  areas  in  which  from  one  to  ten  wells  are  produc¬ 
ing  from  this  sand. 

KIRKWOOD  SAND 

The  Kirkwood  is  by  far  the  most  prolific  oil  horizon  within  the  quad¬ 
rangle.  Not  only  does  it  cover  a  larger  area  than  any  of  the  others,  but 
it  shows  excellent  initial  production  and  is  long-lived  and  steady  in  its 
yield.  Furthermore,  its  depth  is  not  excessive,  ranging  in  the  main  field 
from  about  1,400  feet  to  about  1,590.  In  the  St.  Francisville  pool  it  is 
1,830  to  1,850  feet  below  the  surface,  and  in  the  Allendale  pool  it  is  pre¬ 
sumed  to  lie  still  deeper.  The  Kirkwood  horizon  lies  about  100  feet  on 
the  average,  varying  somewhat  between  90  and  130  feet,  above  the  top  of 
the  Tracey  sand.  Since  the  McClosky  is  more  regular  in  its  bedding  than 
the  Tracey  a  more  definite  expression  of  the  position  of  the  Kirkwood 
is  given  by  the  statement  that  it  lies  on  the  average  200  to  230  feet  above 
the  upper  lens  of  the  McClosky. 

In  several  localities  within  the  quadrangle  the  Kirkwood  sand  is  len¬ 
ticular,  having  in  many  places  two  and  even  three  lenses.  In  some  places 
the  lower,  in  others  the  upper,  beds  are  developed.  The  thickness  of  the 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


161 


sand  also  varies  greatly,  ranging  from  0  to  100  feet.  The  average  thick¬ 
ness  has  been  computed  by  Blatchley  to  be  33  feet.  Owing  to  irregular 
thickening  and  thinning  both  the  top  and  the  bottom  of  the  sand  bed  or 
beds  are  irregular.  On  account  of  this  irregularity  and  of  the  replacing 
of  one  lens  here  and  there  by  another  higher  or  lower  in  the  series,  con¬ 
tours  drawn  on  the  top  of  the  Kirkwood  sand  show  many  irregularities 
which  should  not  be  interpreted  as  structural  features  of  the  rock  forma¬ 
tions  as  a  whole.  The  contours  do,  however,  represent  with  the  greatest 
attainable  accuracy  the  elevation  at  the  various  localities  of  the  upper  sand 
of  the  Kirkwood  horizon. 

A  conception  of  the  general  structure  of  the  oil  field  may  best  be 
gained  from  the  contours  on  the  Kirkwood  sand  by  omitting  in  imagina¬ 
tion  all  of  the  minor  irregularities  of  the  contours  and  considering  only 
their  broader  features. 

The  Kirkwood  sand,  in  spite  of  its  uneven  thickness  and  lenticular 
character,  is  remarkably  persistent. 

“The  Kirkwood  sand  is  a  medium,  fine-grained  sand  often  called  the 
‘sugar’  sand  because  it  resembles  brown  sugar  in  the  churn-drill  samples. 
*  *  *  *  *  The  *  *  *  oil  is  generally  considered  sweet  oil  which  is  more 
free  from  sulphur  than  is  the  oil  from  the  lower  sand,  although  in  some 
localities  the  sulphur  content  is  variable.  The  average  specific  gravity  of 
the  oil  is  about  36°  Beaume”.5  Some  gas  is  produced  with  the  oil  over  a 
large  part  of  the  field. 

In  the  main  oil  field  the  outlines  of  the  territory  in  which  the  Kirk¬ 
wood  is  productive  nearly  coincide  with  the  outlines  of  the  field  itself.  A 
notable  exception  occurs  in  secs.  15,  16,  and  21,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.,  and 
secs.  27,  34,  and  35,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.,  and  sec.  3,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12  W., 
where  the  Buchanan  and  Bridgeport  sands  are  productive  beyond  the 
Kirkwood  limits.  Outside  the  main  field  productive  pools  in  the  Kirkwood 
have  been  opened  in  secs.  1  and  12,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Lawrence  Town¬ 
ship)  ;  in  the  Billett  pool  secs.  13,  17,  and  18  (Lawrence  Township)  ;  at 
the  eastern  end  of  the  Murphy  pool  secs.  4  and  5,  T.  2  N.,  R.  11  W. ;  and 
in  the  St.  Francisville  pool,  secs.  20,  28,  and  29,  T.  2  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Den¬ 
nison  Township).  Each  of  these  outside  pools  will  be  described  in  detail 
in  following  sections. 


BUCHANAN  SAND 

The  Buchanan  sand  which  constitutes  the  basal  sandstone  of  the 
Pottsville  formation  is  persistently  developed  over  the  entire  quadrangle. 
As  already  indicated,  it  averages  about  100  feet  thick  and  in  the  main 
field  its  top  lies  on  the  average  about  250  feet  above  the  top  of  the  Kirk¬ 
wood  sand,  but  the  interval  is  much  greater  off  the  anticline  at  St.  Francis¬ 
ville  (440d= )  and  at  the  Allendale  pool  (460dt).  Almost  everywhere 


5Blatchley,  R.  S.,  Unpublished  manuscript  of  Vincennes-Sumner  folio. 


162 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


in  the  quadrangle  the  sand  is  filled  with  salt  water,  and  it  is  only  at  a  few 
localities,  notably  secs.  15,  16,  and  21,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.,  on  the  western 
border  of  the  quadrangle;  a  small  area  north  of  Lawrenceville ;  another 
at  the  southern  end  of  the  field ;  and  in  the  Allendale  pool,  that  it  is  pro¬ 
ductive  of  oil.  Inasmuch  as  there  has  been  no  significant  development 
or  extension  of  the  territory  producing  from  this  sand,  except  in  the 
Allendale  pool,  which  has  already  been  fully  described,0  the  reader  is  re¬ 
ferred  to  Blatchley’s  original  description  and  to  the  Allendale  report  for 
more  detailed  accounts.7 


BRIDGEPORT  SAND 

The  Bridgeport  sand,  like  the  Buchanan,  is  widely  developed  within 
the  quadrangle,  but  almost  everywhere  contains  only  salt  water.  A  notable 
exception  is  an  area  of  a  little  over  3  square  miles  at  the  southern  end  of 
the  main  oil  field.  This  has  been  fully  described  in  Blatchley’s  report,  and 
inasmuch  as  there  have  been  no  developments  of  moment  since  that  report 
was  written,  it  is  not  here  described  in  detail. 

“shallow”  sand 

The  oil  pools  in  the  shallow  sand  are  limited  to  the  extreme  south 
end  of  the  main  oil  field.  There  are  but  8  producing  wells  in  this  sand, 
and  these  yield  a  very  small  amount  of  oil.  The  average  depth  of  the 
sand  is  about  450  feet,  being  about  500  feet  above  the  Bridgeport  sand.8 

RECENT  DEVELOPMENTS  IN  THE  MAIN  FIELD 
GENERAL  STATEMENT 

The  recent  developments  have  been  mainly  the  routine  drilling  of  leases 
already  outlined  and  proved  at  an  earlier  date.  This  inside  drilling  has 
resulted  in  increasing  here  and  there  the  areas  of  the  productive  pools  in 
the  various  sands,  particularly  in  the  deeper  sands,  and  in  the  closer  de¬ 
lineation  of  the  limits  of  these  pools.  The  outlines  of  the  oil  pools  in  the 
various  sands  as  developed  on  September  1,  1915,  are  shown  on  Plate  IX. 
A  comparison  of  this  map  with  those  published  in  Bulletin  22  will  indicate 
the  increase  in  productive  territory  and  the  new  discoveries  since  July  1, 
1911,  the  date  at  which  the  field  work  for  Bulletin  22  was  completed. 

In  a  belief  that  it  may  have  value  in  indicating  the  trend  of  recent 
developments  within  the  field,  the  most  important  additions  to  the  produc¬ 
tive  territory  of  each  of  the  sands  made  within  the  last  two  years  are  out¬ 
lined  in  order. 

fiKay,  Fred  H.,  and  others,  Oil  investigations  in  Illinois  in  1914:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey 
Bull.  31,  pp.  59-68,  1915. 

‘Blatchley,  R.  S.,  Oil  in  Crawford  and  Lawrence  counties:  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull. 
22,  1913. 

SBlatchley,  R.  S.,  Unpublished  manuscript  of  the  Sumner-Vincennes  folio. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


163 


MCCLOSKY  SAND 

Within  the  main  field  recent  drilling  has  resulted  in  the  following  ad¬ 
dition  to  the  areas  producing  from  the  McClosky  horizon.  In  the  NW. 
l/4  sec.  12,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Lawrence  Township),  a  small  pool  of  4  wells 
has  been  added,  and  near  the  center  of  the  section  two  other  new  wells  have 
been  brought  in.  In  the  SW.  T/\.  sec.  24,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Dennison 
Township),  a  small  pool  one-half  mile  east  of  the  main  pool  has  been  found. 
In  the  NW.  Y  sec.  35,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Dennison  Township),  the  west¬ 
ern  limits  of  the  large  pool  in  this  locality  have  been  pushed  westward 
about  one-quarter  mile.  A  similar  extension  has  been  made  along  the  east 
side  of  sec.  27,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  In  the  western  half  of  sec.  26,  the  com¬ 
pletion  of  drilling  has  proved  the  McClosky  to  be  productive. 

TRACEY  SAND 

The  only  important  additions  to  the  productive  area  of  Tracey  sand 
have  been  made  in  secs.  23,  26,  and  35,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.,  and  sec.  2,  T. 
2  N.,  R.  12  W.  The  small  pool  along  the  south  side  of  sec.  15,  T.  3 
N.,  R.  12  W.,  has  been  extended  southward  to  include  3  new  wells. 

KIRKWOOD  SAND 

Within  the  main  field  the  most  important  extensions  of  the  Kirk¬ 
wood  area  have  been  made  in  secs.  3  and  10,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Law¬ 
rence  Township).  Here  about  one-half  square  mile  has  been  added  to 
the  productive  field.  A  considerable  addition  has  also  been  made  in  the 
somewhat  isolated  pool  in  the  NE.  C4  sec.  12  and  SW.  Y\  sec.  1,  T.  3  N., 
R.  12  W.  (Lawrence  Township).  Considerable  additional  inside  drilling 
was  done  and  some  extensions  were  made  to  the  southeastern  end  of  the 
pool  in  sec.  21,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12  W.,  and  secs.  6  and  7,  T.  2  N.,  R.  11  W. 
(Dennison  Township).  The  latter  territory  lies  immediately  west  of  the 
Murphy  pool  and  serves  to  connect  it  with  the  main  field. 

BUCHANAN  SAND 

The  only  significant  additions  to  the  area  of  productive  territory  in 
the  Buchanan  sand  were  made  near  the  center  of  sec.  11,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12 
W.,  where  twelve  new  wells  have  been  drilled  without  apparently  ex¬ 
hausting  the  possibilities  of  further  extension,  and  in  the  Allendale  field. 

BRIDGEPORT  SAND 

No  significant  additions  to  the  territory  producing  from  this  sand 
have  been  made.  A  number  of  wells  within  the  territory  already  out¬ 
lined  have  been  drilled  and  a  few  scattered  ones  outside,  but  these  have 
resulted  in  no  definite  extension  of  the  limits  of  the  field. 


164 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


"shallow"  SAND 

In  sec.  2,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12  W.  (Dennison  Township),  fewer  than  a 
half  dozen  new  wells  in  the  “shallow’’  sand  have  been  drilled.  They  have 
not  materially  altered  the  limits  of  the  area. 

Oil  Pools  Developed  outside  the  Main  Field 

GENERAL  STATEMENT 

Since  the  completion  of  the  field  work  on  which  Mr.  Blatchley’s 
report  was  based,  five  small  though  important  oil  pools  have  been  discov¬ 
ered  outside  the  limits  of  the  main  field.  These  are,  in  order  of  their  dis¬ 
covery :  the  Allendale,  Billett,  Hebert,  Murphy,  and  St.  Francisville  pools. 
Of  these  the  Allendale  is  in  the  Buchanan  sand ;  the  Billett  is  mainly  in 
the  Kirkwood  sand ;  the  Murphy  and  the  Hebert  mainly  in  the  McClosky 
sand;  and  the  St.  Francisville  is  believed  to  derive  its  oil  from  the  Kirk¬ 
wood  sand.  Since  the  discovery  of  these  outlying  pools  indicates  the  pos¬ 
sibility  of  further  extension  of  the  field,  each  of  them  is  here  described 
in  considerable  detail. 


ALLENDALE  POOL 

The  Allendale  pool  is  in  the  southwestern  corner  of  the  quadrangle 
about  two  miles  northwest  of  Allendale.  The  western  part  of  the  field  lies 
outside  the  limits  of  our  map  in  the  Sumner  quadrangle.  The  larger  part, 
however,  lies  within  the  area  under  discussion. 

The  field  was  studied  by  the  writer  in  the  summer  of  1914,  and  in  1915 
a  detailed  report  was  published  by  the  State  Geological  Survey.9  Since 
that  study  and  report  were  completed  an  important  addition  to  the  field 
has  been  made  at  the  northeastern  end,  and  the  completion  of  the  Collison 
well  about  halfway  between  this  field  and  the  main  pool  to  the  north  has 
made  possible  a  revision  of  the  correlation  of  the  sands  of  the  Allendale 
field.  In  that  report  the  Biehl  sand  was  correlated  with  the  Kirkwood. 
The  recent  study  has  shown  that  it  should,  rather,  be  correlated  with  the 
Buchanan  sand  of  the  main  field,  though  there  is  a  possibility  that  it  is  a 
hitherto  undiscovered  sand  in  the  upper  part  of  the  Chester  group. 

For  a  detailed  description  and  map  of  the  Allendale  field  as  it  existed 
in  1914,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  report  already  mentioned.  A  brief 
summary  of  the  essential  features  of  that  report  is  here  presented,  to¬ 
gether  with  a  more  detailed  discussion  of  the  recent  development  of  the 
field. 

The  pool  was  opened  in  August,  1912,  by  a  650-barrel  well  on  the 
Adam  Biehl  farm  in  the  NE.  cor.  SE.  *4  sec.  4.  A  boom  resulted  and 
the  field  was  rapidly  developed  and  the  surrounding  territory  tested. 


9Rich,  John  L.,  The  Allendale  oil  field:  HI.  State  Geol.  Survey,  Bull.  31,  pp.  59-68,  1915. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


165 


The  principal  producing  sand  of  the  Allendale  pool  is  known  locally 
as  the  Biehl  sand.  A  second  sand  lens,  about  35  feet  below  the  Biehl, 
which  has  been  developed  in  the  course  of  the  recent  drilling,  is  known  as 
the  Jordan  sand.  Over  most  of  the  field  the  Biehl  sand  is  a  single  bed  20 
to  30  feet  in  thickness,  having  a  maximum  observed  thickness  of  about  45 
feet.  A  marked  local  thinning  of  the  sand  was  disclosed  in  the  wells  in 
the  NW.  J4  sec.  9,  and,  in  several  wells  south  and  east  of  the  Biehl  well, 
the  Biehl  sand  is  absent,  and  only  the  Jordan  sand  is  encountered.  This 
absence  of  the  Biehl  sand  in  the  Lucy  Courter  well  No.  1  and  the  Eli  Jor¬ 
dan  well  No.  1  near  the  west  center  of  section  3  led  to  an  erroneous  repre¬ 
sentation  of  the  structure  in  the  earlier  report  because  the  Jordan  sand  in 
these  wells  was  taken  for  the  Biehl  which  was  supposed  to  have  dipped 
down  to  the  lower  level  actually  occupied  by  the  Jordan  sand. 

In  the  summer  of  1915  the  drilling  of  two  productive  wells  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  Allendale  pool,  one  of  them  indicating  the  pos¬ 
sible  extension  of  the  pool  to  the  east,  attracted  renewed  attention  to  the 
region.  These  wells  were  No.  8  on  the  Jacob  Smith  farm,  two  locations 
south  of  the  Biehl  well  and  the  Jordan  Brothers  line  well,  one  location 
east  of  Smith  No.  8.  Both  wells  produced  from  the  Jordan  sand  at  a 
horizon  about  35  feet  below  the  level  of  the  Biehl  sand.  In  both,  the 
Biehl  sand  was  lacking.  Later  in  the  year  well  No.  2  on  the  Eli  Jordan 
farm  and  No.  2  on  the  Jo  Jordan  farm  both  proved  productive  and  ex¬ 
tended  the  limits  of  the  pool  one  location  farther  east.  The  northern  of 
these  wells,  Eli  Jordan  No.  2,  had  an  initial  production  of  180  barrels. 
Both  the  Biehl  and  Jordan  sands  were  encountered  in  each  of  the  wells. 
On  November  23,  1915,  a  10-barrel  well  on  the  V.  H.  Price  farm  in  the 
NE.  NE.  J4  sec.  4  was  completed.  This  proved  that  the  field  extends 
northward.  The  low  yield  of  the  well  is  probably  attributable  to  lack  of 
porosity  in  the  sand,  since  structurally  the  Biehl  sand  is  high,  its  top  lying 
511  feet  above  datum.  On  March  12,  1916,  the  completion  of  a  300-barrel 
well  on  the  Lucy  Courter  farm  in  the  SW.  J4  NW.  J4  sec.  3,  proved  the 
pool  to  extend  northeastward  and  created  considerable  excitement.  Dur¬ 
ing  the  spring  and  summer  of  1916  drilling  was  in  active  progress.  A  let¬ 
ter  from  the  field  dated  June  12th  states  that  5  wells  have  been  completed 
on  the  Courter  and  Eli  Jordan  farms  in  the  west  half  of  sec.  3,  and  that 
two  test  wells  in  the  SW.  J4  NE.  l/\.  sec.  3  and  the  SE.  cor.  SW.  ]/\  sec. 
34,  respectively,  have  proved  dry.  In  the  latter  well  the  Jordan  sand  seems 
to  lie  about  40  feet  lower  than  in  the  wells  on  the  highest  part  of  the  Allen¬ 
dale  dome.  The  principal  production  in  the  new  wells  is  from  the  Biehl 
sand.  In  the  Courter  well  No.  1  (Allendale  Oil  Company)  the  top  of  this 
sand  is  512  feet  above  datum. 

A  restudy  of  the  logs  of  the  deep  wells  around  the  Allendale  field  in 
the  light  of  the  data  from  the  Collison  well  leads  to  the  conclusion  that  the 


166 


YEAR  HOOK  FOR  1915 


Biehl  sand  is  not  Kirkwood,  but  is  a  higher  sand  at  least  450  feet  above 
the  Kirkwood,  probably  Buchanan. 

It  is  certain,  therefore,  that  the  principal  productive  sands  of  the  main 
oil  field,  the  Kirkwood,  Tracey,  and  McClosky,  lie  below  the  level  of  the 
Biehl  sand.  No  wells  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  Allendale  dome  have 
been  drilled  deep  enough  to  test  these  sands.  The  deep  wells  south  of  the 
pool  did  not  penetrate  below  the  Kirkwood,  and  it  is  doubtful  if  more 
than  one  of  them  even  reached  it. 

In  the  light  of  these  facts  it  is  believed  that  the  deeper  sands  should 
be  tested  by  one  or  more  deep  wells  on  the  higher  parts  of  the  dome.  The 
data  at  hand  indicate  that  the  Kirkwood  sand  should  be  struck  about  450 
to  475  feet,  the  Tracey  575  feet,  and  the  McClosky  700  to  750  feet  below 
the  top  of  the  Biehl  sand.  The  anticlinal  structure  of  the  rocks  in  the 
Allendale  field  is  favorable  for  the  accumulation  of  oil  in  these  lower 
sands.  Should  a  deep  well  he  drilled,  samples  should  be  saved  systematic¬ 
ally  and  sent  to  the  State  Geological  Survey,  charges  collect,  for  exam¬ 
ination. 

The  success  of  wildcat  drilling  east  and  northeast  of  the  Allendale 
pool  would  seem  to  depend  upon  the  accidental  discovery  of  other  small 
domes  similar  to  that  which  is  responsible  for  the  Allendale  pool.  There 
is  no  direct  indication  that  such  domes  are  present. 

P.ILLETT  POOL 

The  Billett  pool  is  2  miles  south  of  Lawrenceville.  As  developed 
in  September,  1915,  it  covered  an  area  of  about  one  square  mile  in  secs. 
13,  17,  and  18,  Lawrence  Township,  and  secs.  19  and  20,  Dennison  Town¬ 
ship  (T.  3  N.,  Rs.  11  and  12  W.).  The  pool  is  isolated,  being  separated 
on  all  sides  from  other  productive  territory  by  at  least  one-half  mile  of 
barren  or  untested  ground.  The  first  successful  well  in  this  area  was  drilled 
on  the  Roy  Tracey  farm  in  the  NW.  *4  sec.  18,  and  the  field  was  developed 
rapidly  during  the  summer  and  autumn  of  1913.  The  Tracey  well  en¬ 
countered  oil  in  the  lower  of  two  lenses  of  the  Kirkwood  sand  380  feet 
above  datum.  In  the  summer  of  1915  very  little  development  of  the  field 
was  going  on,  but  in  the  spring  of  1916  several  new  wells  were  being 
drilled. 

From  the  standpoint  of  the  oil  producer,  the  first  important  formation 
encountered  in  the  wells  in  this  region  is  the  Bridgeport  sand  the  top  of 
which  is  here  found  at  930  to  1,000  feet  above  datum.  This  sand  varies 
greatly  in  thickness,  but  not  uncommonly  is  nearly  200  feet  thick.  In  most 
of  the  wells  it  shows  large  quantities  of  salt  water.  W  ells  in  the  NW.  Rt 
section  18  struck  a  showing  of  oil  at  the  top  of  the  Bridgeport  sand,  but 
the  quantity  was  not  sufficient  for  exploitation.  Below  the  Bridgeport 
sand  are  120  to  280  feet  of  shale  with  some  thin  beds  of  limestone  suc¬ 
ceeded  by  the  Buchanan  sand  30  to  170  feet  thick.  The  Buchanan  is  not 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


167 


uncommonly  broken  into  two  or  three  lenses  with  limestone  between.  '1  he 
elevation  of  the  top  of  the  Buchanan  sand,  as  of  the  Bridgeport  above  it, 
varies  within  limits  of  nearly  100  feet  on  account  of  thickening  and  thin¬ 
ning  and  irregular  development  of  the  sand.  The  same  is  true  of  the  bot¬ 
tom  of  both  sands.  Below  the  Buchanan  is  a  series  of  limestones  and  shales 
with  one  or  more  thin  beds  of  red  rock.  One  of  the  latter  is  notably  per¬ 
sistent  at  about  460  feet  above  datum,  approximately  170  feet  below  the 
top  of  the  Buchanan  sand.  Two  hundred  and  fifty  feet,  on  an  average, 
below  the  top  of  the  Buchanan  sand  is  the  Kirkwood  sand.  This  is  well 
developed  and  is  encountered  in  almost  every  well,  though  it  is  notably 
lenticular,  two  and  three  lenses  being  as  common  as  one,  particularly  in 
the  western  part  of  the  field  in  the  SE.  Ct  sec.  13.  At  the  eastern  end  of 
the  pool  only  one  lens,  as  a  rule,  is  developed.  The  Kirkwood  sand  varies 
in  thickness  from  10  to  60  feet.  From  20  to  25  feet  is  the  most  common 
thickness. 

About  110  feet  below  the  top  of  the  Kirkwood  is  the  Tracey  sand. 
This  is  well  developed  at  the  western  end  of  the  field,  though  not  found 
at  the  east.  It  is  somewhat  less  lenticular  than  the  Kirkwood.  Its  thick¬ 
ness  averages  about  20  feet,  but  varies  in  the  wells  from  which  it  has  been 
reported  between  12  and  50  feet.  Between  the  Kirkwood  and  the  Tracey 
sands  the  rocks  are  prevailingly  shale  with  a  subordinate  amount  of  lime¬ 
stone.  Beneath  the  Tracey  sand,  revealed  by  the  logs  from  this  locality 
(see  log  of  Nellie  Tracey  well  No.  2  in  early  part  of  report),  limestone 
constitutes  at  least  90  per  cent  of  the  rock. 

About  200  feet  below  the  Kirkwood,  and  a  little  less  than  100  feet 
below  the  top  of  the  Tracey,  is  the  McClosky  sand.  This  is  not  well 
developed  at  the  western  end  of  the  field.  Only  one  well  obtains  oil  from 
it,  and  the  amount  is  very  small.  At  the  eastern  end  of  the  field  the  Mc¬ 
Closky  sand  has  been  struck  in  all  the  wells  that  have  penetrated  deep 
enough.  It  is  only  2  to  10  feet  thick.  In  one  well  three  thin  lenses  were 
found  within  a  vertical  distance  of  50  feet.  The  McClosky  sand  is  notably 
more  regular  in  its  development  than  are  any  of  the  sands  above.  Be¬ 
neath  the  McClosky  sand  wells  have  penetrated  limestone  to  depths  100 
to  200  feet  below  datum  but  have  struck  no  more  sand  or  oil. 

The  Billett  pool  is  located  on  a  low  dome  in  rocks  elsewhere  lying  ap¬ 
proximately  flat.  The  highest  part  of  the  dome  is  near  its  western  end 
where  the  top  of  the  Kirkwood  sand  reaches  an  elevation  of  416  feet  above 
datum.  At  the  eastern  end  of  the  pool  the  rocks  are  40  to  50  feet  lower, 
but  are  higher  than  on  either  side. 

A  few  wells  are  producing  oil  from  the  Kirkwood  sand  northeast  of 
the  Billett  pool  near  the  center  of  section  17,  and  in  the  NW.  T4  sec.  8. 
T.  3  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Lawrence  Township).  The  rocks  are  nearly  flat  at 
340  to  360  feet  above  datum. 


168 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


HEBERT  POOL 

The  beginnings  of  the  development  of  what  may  later  prove  to  be  a 
considerable  pool  in  the  McClosky  sand  were  made  in  the  summer  of  1913 
in  secs.  14,  15,  22,  and  23,  T.  3  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Allison  Township).  On 
September  1,  1915,  seven  wells  were  producing  from  the  McClosky  sand 
in  this  area.  As  is  shown  on  the  map,  the  wells  are  scattered  in  such  a 
way  as  to  indicate  that  an  area  of  a  square  mile  or  more  may  be  found 
productive.  The  yield,  however,  is  small,  from  12  to  40  barrels  at  the 
start.  The  oil  is  produced  from  flat-lying  rocks  at  depths  of  1,840  to 
1,860  feet,  or  at  elevations  of  55  to  72  feet  above  datum.  This  is  about 
100  feet  lower  than  the  McClosky  sand  at  the  east  end  of  the  Billett  pool 
2l/2  miles  to  the  west.  The  Kirkwood  sand,  however,  at  320  to  335  feet 
above  datum,  is  only  30  to  40  feet  lower  than  at  the  east  end  of  the  Billett 
pool.  It  seems  possible,  therefore,  that  the  McClosky  oil  in  the  area  under 
discussion,  may  be  produced  from  a  lens  somewhat  lower  than  at  the  lat¬ 
ter  locality.  This  probability  is  heightened  by  the  fact  that  in  each  of 
two  of  the  wells  two  lenses  of  McClosky  sand  were  encountered  at  25  and 
68  feet  apart,  respectively.  The  one  produced  oil  from  the  lower  lens,  the 
other  from  the  upper. 

The  data  on  the  McClosky  sand  in  the  scattered  dry  wells  in  the  neigh¬ 
borhood  also  indicate  the  probability  that  not  all  the  McClosky  records 
are  on  a  single  bed  of  sand. 


MURPHY  POOL 

On  April  6,  1914, 10  a  2400-barrel  well  on  the  M.  J.  Murphy  farm, 
sec.  5,  T.  2  N.,  R.  11  W.  (Dennison  Township),  opened  the  Murphy  pool. 
The  original  discovery  was  in  the  McClosky  sand  at  a  depth  of  1,835  feet, 
and  the  greatest  production  has  come  from  this  sand  though  later  drilling 
has  revealed  considerable  productive  territory  in  the  Kirkwood  sand.  As 
developed  in  the  summer  of  1915,  the  pool,  including  both  Kirkwood  and 
McClosky  sands,  covered  an  area  of  about  one-half  square  mile  in  the 
southern  part  of  sec.  5,  the  southwestern  part  of  sec.  4,  and  a  small  strip 
along  the  north  side  of  sec.  8.  The  pool  in  the  Kirkwood  sand  extends 
westward  into  the  SE.  34  sec.  6,  T.  2  N.,  R.  11  W.,  whence  it  connects 
with  a  southeastern  prolongation  of  the  main  oil  field. 

The  McClosky  sand  in  the  productive  pool  is  from  2  to  10  feet  in 
thickness.  It  lies  almost  perfectly  flat  and  about  100  feet  above  datum. 
The  sand  is  very  uniform,  though  in  a  few  wells  two  lenses  were  noted, 
the  upper  of  which  carried  gas.  In  most  of  the  wells  some  gas  was  found 
with  the  oil.  Outside  the  productive  limits  of  the  pool  the  McClosky  sand 
either  is  absent  or  is  broken  into  thin  lenses  some  of  which  carry  gas.  The 
greatest  production  centered  around  a  small  area  near  the  south  center 


10Kay,  F.  H.,  Petroleum  in  Illinois  in  1914  and  1915,  Ill.  State  Geol.  Survey  Bull.  33,  1916. 


T.2  N.  T.3  N. 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


BULLETIN  NO.  33,  PLATE  IX 


R.  12  VV. 


MAP 

SHOWING 

OIL  POOLS  IN  VARIOUS  SANDS 

OF  THE 

VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 
BY 

J.  L.  RICH  AND  R.  S.  BLATCHLEY 
LEGEND 

y/'/,  Kirkwood 

y/  ,  MoClosky 

Tracey 
Buchanan 
Bridgeport 

Seal©  of  miles 


R.12  W. 


R11  V/. 


T.3  N.  _  T.2  N 


OIL  AND  Gas  IN  THE  VINCENNES  quadrangle 


169 


of  section  5.  Here  6  wells  produced  the  first  day  more  than  1,000  barrels 
each,  another  750  barrels.  Outside  this  small  area  of  great  production  the 
yield  was  relatively  small,  varying  from  5  to  150  barrels.  After  the  first 
few  days  the  production  declined  very  rapidly  to  such  an  extent  that  by 
September,  1914,  the  production  of  the  entire  pool  is  said  to  have  been 
only  1,500  barrels  per  day — not  much  more  than  half  the  initial  daily  pro¬ 
duction  of  some  of  the  best  single  wells. 

The  Kirkwood  sand  varies  considerably  in  thickness,  ranging  from 
10  to  95  feet.  It  averages  about  30  feet  thick.  Within  the  productive 
area  of  the  McClosky  sand  only  one  well  reported  oil  from  the  Kirkwood 
though  that  sand  was  present  in  nearly  every  well.  The  outlines  of  the 
areas  producing  oil  from  the  Kirkwood  sand  appear  on  the  map  (PI.  IX). 

The  production  ranged  up  to  150  barrels  for  the  first  day.  Water  is 
reported  in  the  bottom  of  the  Kirkwood  sand  in  several  of  the  records. 
Over  the  area  covered  by  the  Murphy  pool  the  Kirkwood  sand  seems  to 
be  a  single  continuous  bed,  though  it  varies  greatly  in  thickness.  There 
is  considerable  irregularity  in  its  elevation,  indicating  that  it  was  not  de¬ 
posited  evenly.  It  is  notably  less  regular  than  the  McClosky  sand  below. 

The  Buchanan  sand  is  present  in  a  bed  ranging  up  to  150  feet  in 
thickness.  In  only  one  well  was  there  any  show  of  oil  or  gas.  The  Bridge¬ 
port  sand  with  a  thickness  of  somewhat  over  100  feet,  may  also  be  recog¬ 
nized  but  is  barren  of  oil  or  gas. 

The  McClosky  sand,  on  account  of  its  great  regularity  is  the  most 
favorable  for  a  study  of  structure.  Plotting  of  the  elevations  above 
datum,  of  this  sand  reveals  the  almost  perfectly  flat  character  of  the  beds. 
Within  the  producing  area  the  range  in  elevation  is  from  90  to  110  feet. 
No  systematic  variation  in  elevation  appears.  Toward  the  west  there  may 
be  a  slight  rise  of  the  strata,  but  this  can  not  be  determined  with  certainty 
because  of  the  poor  development  of  the  McClosky  sand  and  the  difficulty 
of  exact  correlations.  The  data  on  the  Kirkwood  sand,  however,  indicates 
a  slight  rise  toward  the  west.  In  the  SE.  >4  section  6  it  stands  360  feet 
above  datum  as  compared  with  about  330  feet  along  the  east  side  of  sec¬ 
tion  5  and  the  west  side  of  section  4.  Toward  the  east  are  no  data  on 
the  McClosky  sand,  which  appears  to  be  absent;  but  the  elevations  of  the 
Kirkwood  indicate  that  there  is  no  marked  dip  eastward  from  the  produc¬ 
tive  portion  of  the  Murphy  pool,  at  least  as  far  as  has  been  explored. 

ST.  FRANCISVILLE  POOL 

In  the  early  part  of  November,  1914,  Taylor  and  others  completed  a 
successful  test  well  on  the  Lagote  farm  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile 
southwest  of  St.  Francisville.  The  well  gave  an  initial  production  of  100 
barrels.  The  ordinary  local  boom  resulted,  and  within  a  year  44  wells  had 
been  drilled  35  of  which  were  producing  oil  on  September  1,  1915.  In  the 
spring  of  1916,  further  extension  of  the  field  was  in  active  progress.  The 


170 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


majority  of  the  wells  started  with  initial  productions  of  25  to  30  barrels 
per  day. 

The  oil  is  encountered  at  a  depth  of  1,820  to  1,850  feet,  or  60  to  85 
feet  above  a  datum  plane  1,500  feet  below  sea  level.  It  comes  from  a 
sand  which  varies  in  thickness  from  4  or  5  to  60  feet.  The  oil  is  black 
instead  of  green  like  that  from  a  similar  depth  in  the  Murphy  pool.  It 
lies  300  to  320  feet  below  the  base  of  the  Pottsville  formation.  This  is 
approximately  the  position  occupied  by  the  Tracey  sand  in  the  field  to 
the  north,  but  the  oil  at  St.  Francisville  is  reported  to  be  “sweet”,  whereas 
the  Tracey  oil  is  “sour”.  This  characteristic,  together  with  the  absence 
of  a  well-defined  sand  corresponding  to  the  Kirkwood  above  the  producing 
sand,  and  the  known  thickening  of  the  Chester  rocks  at  the  top  in  the 
Collison  well  and  in  the  Allendale  field,  leads  to  the  belief  that  the  pro¬ 
ducing  sand  at  St.  Francisville  should  be  correlated  with  the  Kirkwood 
sand  of  the  main  field. 

The  relations  which  are  known  to  apply  in  the  Allendale  field,  and 
which  seem  also  to  apply  here,  between  the  rocks  of  the  Chester  group 
and  those  of  the  Pottsville  are  illustrated  in  the  accompanying  sketch  (Fig. 
14).  This  is  not  drawn  strictly  to  scale  and  purposely  exaggerates  the 


Fig.  14. — Diagrammatic  illustration  of  the  probable  unconformable  relation  be¬ 
tween  the  Mississippian  rocks  at  the  south  end  of  the  oil  field. 

vertical  element,  for  the  purpose  of  clearly  expressing  the  idea  of  the 
unconformity  between  the  rocks  of  the  Mississippian  and  Pennsylvanian 
series,  which  at  the  southern  end  of  the  quadrangle,  results  in  the  lower 
level  of  the  Kirkwood  sand  with  respect  to  the  sands  of  the  Pennsylvanian 
rocks. 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


171 


Both  the  higher  sands,  the  Bridgeport  and  the  Buchanan,  contain  large 
quantities  of  water.  They  lie  in  their  regular  position  and  are  about  100 
feet  lower  than  in  the  Murphy  pool. 

Within  the  limits  of  the  St.  Francisville  pool  the  producing  oil  sand 
lies  nearly  flat.  It  is  also  remarkably  regular.  There  is  a  slight  and  uni¬ 
form  rise  toward  the  east  and  southeast,  the  highest  elevations  of  the  sand 
being  on  the  southeastern  side  of  the  field  where  it  is  95  feet  above  datum. 
It  appears  probable  that  a  further  extension  of  the  field  will  be  made 
toward  the  southeast  and  possibly  toward  the  east.  The  two  dry  wells  on 
the  eastern  border  of  the  pool  owe  their  lack  of  oil  to  the  absence  of  the 
sand  bed.  The  records  give  no  indication  that  the  rocks  there  are  lower. 
Should  it  happen,  as  it  probable,  that  the  absence  of  the  sands  is  only  local, 
there  would  be  a  good  prospect  that  successful  wells  might  be  found  farther 
east. 

A  well  on  the  T.  L.  Lewis  farm  in  the  NW.  34  NE.  34  sec.  20,  T.  2 
N.,  R.  11  W.,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  north  of  the  north  end  of  the  St. 
Francisville  pool,  struck  the  Kirkwood  and  McClosky  sands  at  practically 
the  same  level  as  the  wells  in  the  Murphy  pool.  The  rocks  must,  therefore, 
dip  southward  steeply  from  this  well  to  the  flat  terrace  on  which  the  St. 
Francisville  pool  lies.  Test  wells  in  the  surrounding  territory  do  not  yield 
records  of  sufficient  detail  to  permit  a  more  exact  statement  of  the  rela¬ 
tion  of  the  rocks  of  the  St.  Francisville  field  to  those  of  other  pools. 

Structure  of  the  Rocks  in  the  Vincennes  Quadrangle  in  Relation 

to  the  Accumulation  of  Oil  and  Gas 
explanation  of  map 

The  principal  features  of  the  structure  of  the  rocks  in  the  portions 
of  the  quadrangle  occupied  by  the  main  oil  pool  are  shown  on  Plate  VIII 
by  structure  contours  on  the  top  of  the  Kirkwood  sand.  In  order  that  the 
contour  numbers  may  be  positive,  all  elevations  are  based  on  a  datum 
plane  1,500  feet  below  sea  level.  The  figures  printed  in  connection  with 
the  contours  and  beside  outlying  wells  represent  elevations  above  this 
datum  plane.  Depth  below  sea  level  may  be  obtained  by  subtracting  the 
figures  given  from  1,500,  and  depth  below  the  surface  of  the  ground  by 
subtracting  the  contour  figures  from  1,500  plus  the  elevation  above  the 
sea  of  the  month  of  the  well. 

For  the  outlying  pools  the  contours  on  the  top  of  the  Kirkwood  are 
shown  where  sufficient  data  could  be  secured.  Elsewhere  the  elevations 
of  the  top  of  the  Kirkwood  above  the  datum  plane  are  shown  by  printed 
figures  beside  the  wells.  In  these  outlying  wells  exact  correlation  of  the 
formations  is  difficult  on  account  of  the  horizontal  variability  in  the  charac¬ 
ter  of  the  rocks  and  the  incompleteness  of  most  of  the  logs,  the  majority 
giving  data  only  on  certain  sand  beds.  The  figures  given  represent  the 


172 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


best  correlations  that  could  be  made  in  the  light  of  a  comparative  study 
of  the  logs.  They  are  believed  to  be  approximately  correct. 

STRUCTURAL  FEATURES 

As  is  clearly  shown  by  the  structure  contours  on  the  Kirkwood  sand, 
the  dominant  structural  feature  of  the  quadrangle  is  the  broad,  low  anti¬ 
cline,  extending  north  and  south  through  the  area  occupied  by  the  main 
oil  field  a  nearly  flat  terrace  extending  eastward  from  this  anticline,  and 
the  low  basin  which  occupies  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  quadrangle. 
The  anticline  is  clearly  marked  along  a  line  extending  from  sec.  2,  T.  2  X., 
R.  12  W.,  northward  for  about  6  miles  to  sec.  1,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (See 
west-east  cross-section  of  anticline,  Plate  X,  C.)  At  the  north  it  appears 
to  flatten  out  as  the  rocks  dip  northward  toward  the  structural  basin  along 
Embarrass  River.  The  anticline  is  connected  along  its  northwestern  side 
in  secs.  15  and  16,  9  and  21,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.,  by  a  broad,  nearly  flat 
terrace  with  the  sharper  anticline  which  extends  northward  through  the 
Sumner  and  Vincennes  quadrangles  from  Bridgeport  to  Embarrass  River. 
Along  the  western  side  of  the  anticline  and  terrace  southward  and  south¬ 
eastward,  from  the  border  of  the  quadrangle  in  sec.  21,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W., 
the  rocks  on  the  western  flank  of  the  anticline  dip  deeply  southwestward 
into  the  Illinois  Basin.  This  steeply  dipping  flank  of  the  anticline  extends 
across  the  southern  end  of  the  oil  field  from  sec.  10,  T.  2  A1.,  R.  12  W., 
toward  St.  Francisville,  passing  through  the  northern  half  of  sec.  20,  T. 
2  N.,  R.  1 1  W.,  a  short  distance  north  of  the  town. 

It  is  probable  that  a  comparatively  sharp  monocline  crosses  the  north¬ 
eastern  corner  of  the  quadrangle  in  a  northwest-southeast  direction  from 
the  middle  of  the  north  line,  northeast  of  which  the  rocks  are  300  to  400 
feet  higher  than  on  the  southwest.  The  presence  of  this  monocline  is 
inferred  from  the  logs  of  the  deep  wells  in  the  Birds  quadrangle  to  the 
north.  The  probability  of  the  presence  of  this  monocline  is  confirmed  by 
the  detailed  log  of  a  well  on  the  Boonilletts  farm,  4  miles  north  of  Vin¬ 
cennes  (not  located  on  the  map),  in  which  the  top  of  the  Ste.  Genevieve 
limestone  is  not  less  than  280  feet  above  datum. 

The  eastern  flank  of  the  principal  anticline  dips  much  less  steeply  than 
the  western.  From  the  crest  is  an  eastward  dip  of  about  40  feet  in  a  dis¬ 
tance  of  two  miles  beyond  which  the  rocks  flatten  out,  and  the  average 
dip,  as  is  indicated  by  the  records  of  the  wells  farthest  east,  does  not  ex¬ 
ceed  10  feet  per  mile.  On  this  flat  eastern  limb  of  the  anticline  small  local 
domes  20  to  60  feet  in  height  have  permitted  the  accumulation  of  oil  at 
several  localities  forming  the  Billett,  Hebert,  and  Murphy  pools.  Through 
out  this  area  the  general  conditions  for  the  accumulation  of  oil  are  moder¬ 
ately  favorable  wherever  small  local  domes  occur.  Such  domes  are  likely 
to  be  of  small  area,  and  their  presence  can  be  determined  only  by  the  drill. 


ILLINOIS  STATE  G 


Sect 


ILLINOIS  STATE  GEOLOGICAL  SURVEY 


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Sections  in  Vincennes  quadrangle  showing  oil  sands : 

A.  Through  Murphy  pool  showing  even  bedding  of  the  McCloskey  as  compared  with  the  more  irregular  Tracey,  Kirk¬ 

wood,  Buchanan,  and  Bridgeport  sands. 

B.  Along  north  line  of  section  13,  Lawrence  Township,  showing  more  than  one  McCloskey  oil  sand. 

C.  West  to  east  across  productive  part  of  La  Salle  anticline  along  first  tier  of  wells  south  of  center  of  secs.  27,  26,  and 

25,  T.  3  N.,  R.  12  W.  (including  original  McCloskey  well). 


173 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 

At  the  St.  Francisville  pool  the  rocks  are  lying  very  nearly  Hat  but 
are  rising  at  a  low  angle  toward  the  southeast.  The  productive  portion 
of  the  pool  lies  about  300  to  350  feet  lower  than  the  south  end  of  the  man, 
field  on  the  anticline.  The  eastward  rise  of  the  rocks  noted  in  the  wells 
at  St.  Francisville  is  reported  by  Mr.  T.  E.  Savage  who  has  studied 
geology  of  the  region,  to  be  visible  also  in  the  rocks  at  the  surface,  the 
eastward  rise  persisting  to  the  eastern  borders  of  the  quadrangle.  No  goo 
well  records  have  been  secured  from  the  areas  southeast  of  St;  , 
ville  consequently  the  continued  rise  to  the  east  cannot  be  verified  from 
*  on  the  deeper  S.„d*.  The  dry  hole,  .tong  .he  •».«»  »< « 

of  the  St.  Francisville  pool  as  developed  in  September,  1915,  appeal  o 
due  rather  to  the  pinching  out  of  the  particular  sand  which  produces  ic 
oil  than  to  the  lowering  of  the  structure.  The  rocks  at  the  dry  holes  ap- 
pear  to  be  as  high  as  elsewhere  within  the  pool. 

An  important  deep  well,  a  record  of  which  is  published  herewith  was 

drilled  in  the  summer  of  1915  on  the  Colhson  farm  in  the  NW.  A  -  A 
sec  07  T  2  N  R  12  W.  (Dennison  Township).  In  this  well,  which  has 

an  elevation  at 'the  mouth  of  443  feet,  the  top  of  the  “Big  Lime”  was  em 
countered  between  2,000  and  2,065  feet  below  the  surface.  The  k.rkwooc. 
sand  with  a  show  of  oil  lay  at  a  depth  of  1,861  feet,  or  feet  above 
datum.  A  show  of  green  oil,  correlated  with  the  McUosky,  was  en¬ 
countered  in  the  upper  part  of  the  “Big  Lime  at  2,119  feet,  or  176  feet 

below  datum.  . 

A  well  near  the  west  center  of  sec.  22  (Easterclay  farm)  thiee-  ouitis 
mile  northwest  of  the  Collison  well,  encountered  a  water  sand  which  is 
interpreted  as  the  Kirkwood  at  1.940  to  1.950  feet  below  the  ground.  This 
is  13  feet  below  datum.  The  formation  here  seems  to  be  95  feet  ouci 

than  in  the  Collison  well. 

It  appears  from  these  records  that  the  rocks  at  the  Collison  and  East- 
erday  wells  lie  300  to  400  feet  lower  than  on  the  anticline  at  the  southern 
end  of  the  oil  field  in  sec.  2,  T.  2  N,  R.  12  W. 

The  detailed  record  of  the  Collison  well  proved  to  be  the  connecting 
link  which  made  possible  a  revision  of  the  correlation  of  the  formations 
in  the  Allendale  pool  which  lies  near  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  quad- 
rangle.  From  the  few  records  of  deep  wells  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
Allendale  field,  it  appears  that  the  horizon  of  the  Kirkwood  sand  ics 
roughly  1,500  feet  below  sea  level,  a  little  lower  than  in  the  Collison  v\c 
The  correlation  is  made  on  the  basis  of  the  red  shale  and  the  limestone 
which  commonly  overlie  the  Kirkwood  and  which  are  encountered  m  t  tese 
deep  wells  at  depths  1.830  to  1,960  feet  below  the  surface.  The  wells  yield¬ 
ing  data  on  the  red  rock  are  on  the  Mary  B.  Carson  farm  in  the  W\  .  A 
sec.  28.  T.  1  N„  R.  12  W.,  one-half  mile  southwest  of  the  south  corner  of 

the  quadrangle;  the  C.  F.  Adams  farm  in  the  \E.  A  /a  set-  ^ 


174 


YEAR  BOOK  FOR  1915 


1  N.,  R.  12  W.,  about  one-eighth  mile  west  of  the  quadrangle  line ;  on  the 
John  H.  Schafer  farm,  NW.  corner  sec.  15  (near  the  south  end  of  the 
Allendale  pool),  and  the  Carlton  Hershey  farm  near  the  center  of  sec. 
34,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12  W.,  one  mile  north-northeast  of  the  northern  end  of 
the  Allendale  pool  and  between  it  and  the  Collison  well.  The  records  of 
these  wells  indicate  that  the  rocks  in  the  southwestern  portion  of  the  quad¬ 
rangle  lie  essentially  flat  at  a  level  400  to  450  feet  lower  than  the  crest 
of  the  anticline  in  the  main  oil  field  and  about  80  feet  lower  than  the  pro¬ 
ductive  terrace  at  St.  Francisville. 

As  has  been  stated  in  the  description  of  the  Allendale  field,  the  new 
correlation  places  the  Biehl  sand,  the  producing  sand  of  the  Allendale  field, 
not  at  the  horizon  of  the  Kirkwood  in  the  Chester  rocks,  but  at  approx¬ 
imately  the  horizon  of  the  Buchanan  sand  in  the  Pottsville  formation.  The 
Allendale  pool  is  conditioned  by  a  small  local  dome  similar  to  those  on 
the  eastern  flank  of  the  anticline  farther  north,  which  has  permitted  the 
accumulation  of  oil.  Practically  nothing  is  known  of  the  structure  of  the 
rocks  along  the  southern  border  of  the  quadrangle  except  near  the  Allen¬ 
dale  field.  Several  dry  wells  have  been  drilled,  but  no  records  are  avail¬ 
able. 


Areas  Favorable  for  Further  Drilling 

As  a  general  statement  it  may  be  said  that  all  the  area  east  from  the 
main  field  and  as  far  south  as  the  Murphy  pool,  secs.  4  and  5,  T.  3  N.,  R. 
11  W.,  is  possible  oil  territory  in  the  sense  that  small  local  domes  here  and 
there  may  be  found.  The  rocks  over  the  entire  area  lie  relatively  high  as 
compared  with  those  west  of  the  anticline  and  in  the  basin  in  the  south¬ 
western  corner  of  the  quadrangle.  Several  small  pools  within  this  area 
have  already  been  discovered,  and  the  prospects  are  favorable  that  further 
drilling  will  reveal  others.  There  is,  however,  no  possibility  of  indicating 
in  advance  the  exact  points  where  drilling  would  be  successful,  and  since 
any  pools  discovered  are  likely  to  be  small,  prospecting  should  be  conserv¬ 
ative.  A  slight  extension  of  the  eastern  end  of  the  Murphy  pool  seems 
probable;  likewise,  an  extension  of  the  St.  Francisville  pool  to  the  east 
and  southwest.  If  the  eastward  rise  of  the  strata  continues  from  St. 
Francisville  to  the  eastern  border  of  the  quadrangle,  as  is  indicated  from 
the  studies  of  the  surface  rocks,  there  is  a  prospect  that  almost  anywhere 
in  the  eastern  and  southeastern  portions  of  the  quadrangle  small  local 
pools,  conditioned  by  the  presence  of  minor  domes  on  otherwise  flat-lying 
rocks,  may  be  found.  Here,  as  to  the  northeast,  there  is  no  possibility 
of  indicating  the  exact  locations  of  such  pools,  particularly  in  view  of  the 
fact  that  the  alluvium  of  the  Wabash  valley  covers  the  bed  rock.  In  con¬ 
nection  with  the  discussion  of  the  possibilities  of  further  development  of 
this  area,  attention  is  called  to  the  fact  that  the  structural  conditions  under 
the  eastern  half  of  the  Vincennes  quadrangle  are  very  similar  to  those  of 


OIL  AND  GAS  IN  THE  VINCENNES  QUADRANGLE 


175 


the  Birds  quadrangle,  though  the  oil  is  likely  to  be  produced  from  a  lower 
horizon.  In  both  regions  the  rocks  seem  to  lie  nearly  flat,  dipping,  how¬ 
ever,  at  the  low  angle  toward  the  east  in  the  Birds  quadrangle,  and  the 
accumulation  of  the  oil  is  controlled  by  local  features — in  the  Birds  quad¬ 
rangle  by  local  thickenings  of  the  sand  at  the  oil  horizon ;  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  Vincennes  quadrangle,  apparently,  by  minor  structural  domes. 

The  data  on  the  very  few  wells  in  the  region  indicates  that  there  may 
be  a  fairly  pronounced  terrace  south  of  the  end  of  the  main  field  in  the 
southern  halves  of  secs.  13  and  14,  and  in  secs.  23  and  24,  T.  2  N.,  R.  12 
W.  (Dennison  Township).  Though  the  finding  of  oil  in  this  region  can 
not  be  predicted  with  any  great  degree  of  confidence,  it  is  believed  that  this 
is  the  most  favorable  area  in  the  immediate  vicinity  for  testing. 

The  Allendale  field,  it  is  believed,  will  be  found  to  extend  northward 
to  the  NW.  %  section  3,  and  possibly  still  farther.  There  seems  less  like¬ 
lihood  that  it  will  be  extended  eastward. 

On  the  whole,  the  most  favorable  area  in  the  entire  quadrangle  for 
immediate  testing  is  believed  to  be  the  deep  sands  in  the  central  part  of 
the  Allendale  field.  The  Kirkwood,  Tracey,  and  McClosky  sands  all  lie 
underneath  the  Biehl  sand,  and  since  the  Allendale  field  is  on  a  distinct, 
though  small,  anticline,  the  conditions  for  the  accumulation  of  oil  in  the 
lower  sands  are  favorable.  The  first  test  wells  should  be  drilled  on  the 
higher  parts  of  the  dome,  as  shown  on  the  contour  map  (PI.  VIII).  The 
depths  at  which  the  deep  sands  are  to  be  expected  are  given  in  connection 
with  the  description  of  the  Allendale  field. 


« 


INDEX 


A 

PAGE 

Allendale  field,  description  of..  164-166 

development  of .  77 

extension  of .  175 

physiography  of .  149 

sands  in . 156,  160,  161,162 

Allison  pool,  description  of .  129 

relation  of,  to  Robinson  sand 

.  130,  131 

salt  water  in .  141 

Appropriations  for  Geological 

Survey  . 23-25 

Avon  quadrangle,  geology  of.... 91-99 

B 


Biehl  sand  in  Allendale  pool. .  .164,  174 
“Big  Lime,”  see  Ste.  Genevieve 
formation 

Billett  pool,  description  of ....  166-167 


structure  of .  172 

Birds  pool,  description  of . 122-124 

gas  sand  in .  118 


relation  of,  to  Robinson  sand 

.  130,  131 

Birds  quadrangle,  oil  and  gas  in 

.  105-145 

Bond  County,  gas  field  in .  45 

Bremen  anticline,  possibilities  of 

oil  in . 101-103 

Brick,  production  of . 47-50 

Bridgeport  sand  in  Lawrence 

county  .  77 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle . 

. 156,  162,  166,  169,  171 

Bureau  County,  gas  in.  . . .  45 

Buchanan  sand  in  Lawrence 

County  . 77 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle . 

. 156,  161-162,  166,  167,  169,  171 

Buena  Vista  dome,  oil  tests  in... 79,  80 
Burlington  limestone  in  Canton 

and  Avon  quadrangles . 92,95 

C 

Canaan  gas  pool,  description  of..  118 

Canton  quadrangle,  geology  of.. 91-99 

(177) 


PAGE 


Carbondale  formation  in  Birds 

quadrangle  . 109,116 

in  Canton  and  Avon  quadrang¬ 
les  . 94 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle .  157 

Carlyle  pool,  development  of....  44 

quality  of  gas  in .  88 

Casing-head  gasoline,  tests  on. . .  .  88 

Cement,  production  of .  54 

Cementing  process  for  oil  wells. 87-88 

Champaign  County,  gas  in .  45 

Chapman  pool,  gas  in .  119 

oil  in . 129-130 

relation  of,  to  Robinson  sand 

.  130,  131 

Chester  group  in  Birds  quad¬ 
rangle  . 109,  114—115,145 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle . 


156,  170,  174 


oil  and  gas  in . 44-45 

sandstone  quarry  in .  50 

Clark  County,  gas  in .  44 

oil  development  in . 73-74 

Clay,  production  of . 46-47 

studies  of . 17,  24-25 

Clay  products,  production  of . 47-50 

Clinton  County,  oil  and  gas  in.  . . . 

.  44,  83,  86 

quality  of  gas  in .  88 

Coal,  production  of . 35-41 

studies  of . 15-16 

Coal  No.  6,  depth  of,  in  Birds 

quadrangle  .  116 

Coke,  production  of .  41 

Coles  County,  oil  development  in. 73-74 

Collison  well,  log  of . 150-152 

Colmar  pool,  development  of.... 77-78 
structure  in .  99 


Crawford  County,  oil  and  gas  in 

. 44,  45,  74-76 


quality  of  gas  in .  88 

Cumberland  County,  gas  in .  44 

oil  development  in . 73-74 


D 

Devonian  series  in  Canton  and 


Avon  quadrangles . 02.  95 

Dewitt  County,  gas  in .  45 


17  8 


IN  DEX — Continued 


PAGE 

Drainage  surveys . 18-20 

Draintile,  production  of . 47-50 


Drillings  for  oil . 86,  89-90,  142-145 


E 

Edgar  County,  gas  in .  45 

oil  development  in . 73-74 

Educational  bulletins,  publication 

of  . 17-18 

F 

Fire  clay,  production  of . 46-47 

Flat  Rock  pool,  character  of  oil  in  139 

description  of . 124-126 

relation  of,  to  Robinson  sand 

.  130,  131 

salt  water  in .  141 

Fluorspar,  production  of . 60-61 


Frederick  terrace,  oil  tests  in....  79 


G 

Gas  in  Birds  quadrangle . 116-119 

studies  of . 16-17 

Galena  limestone  in  Canton  and 

Avon  quadrangles . 94,  95 

Gasoline  from  natural  gas . 45,88 

Glass  sand,  production  of . 57-60 

Greenville,  gas  field  at .  45 

glass  sand  at .  60 

H 

Hamm  pool,  development  of .  78 

Hancock  County,  oil  field  in.  .29,  78,  86 

Heathsville  pool,  description  of..  119 

Hebert  pool,  description  of .  168 

structure  of .  172 

Hey  worth,  natural  gas  at .  45 

Hoing  pool .  78 

Hoing  sand  in  western  part  of 

State  . 79,  91-99 


Huntsville  terrace,  oil  tests  in...  79 

J 

Jackson  pool,  description  of...  127-128 
relation  of,  to  Robinson  sand 

.  130,  131 

salt  water  in .  >  •  141 

lasper  County,  c>i  development  in 

. . .  73-74 

Jones  well  No.  7,  log  of . 153-154 


PAGE 

K 

Kinderhook  shale  in  Canton  and 

Avon  quadrangles . 92,  93,95 

Kirkwood  sand  in  Birds  quad¬ 
rangle  .  144 

Kirkwood  sand  in  Vincennes 

quadrangle . 156,  160,  166, 

167,  168,  169,  170,  171,  172,  173,  174 


L 

Lagow  well,  log  of . 110-111 

La  Salle  anticline  in  Crawford 

County  . 75-76 

Lawrence  County,  oil  and  gas  in 

. 44,  45,  76-77 

quality  of  gas  in .  88 

Lead,  production  of . 63-66 

Lee  County,  gas  in .  45 

Lime,  production  of .  53 

Limestone,  production  of . 50-53 

Littleton,  oil  wells  near .  80 

Logan  County,  gas  in .  45 


M 

Macoupin  County,  oil  and  gas  in 

. 29-42,  45,  80-85,86 


Maps  in  1915 . 21-22 

Maquoketa  shale  in  Canton  and 

Avon  quadrangles . 94,95 

Marion  County,  oil  and  gas  in...  44,  86 

quality  of  gas  in .  88 

McClosky  sand  in  Birds  quad¬ 
rangle  . 142,  145 

in  Crawford  County .  75 

in  Lawrence  County . 76-77 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle . 


....156,  158-160,  167,  168.  169,171 
McDonough  County,  oil  field  in 

.  . 29,  44,  77-78 

McLean  County,  gas  in .  45 

McLeansboro  formation  in  Birds 

quadrangle  .  116 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle .  157 

Mineral  paints,  production  of .  .  . .  66 

Mineral  water,  production  of.... 61-62 

Mineral  statistics . 18,  27-70 

Mis  sis  sip  pi  an  series  in  Birds 

quadrangle  . 109-115,145 

in  Canton  and  Avon  quadran¬ 
gles  . 92,  93,  94,95 


INDEX — Continued 


179 


PAGE 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle.  150-156,  170 


limestone  quarries  in . 50-51 

oil  and  gas  in . 44  45 

sandstone  quarry  in .  50 

Montgomery  County,  gas  in .  45 

Morgan  County,  gas  in .  45 

Murphy  pool,  description  of...  168-169 

structure  of .  172 


PAGE 

Pottsville  formation,  gas  in .  118 

in  Birds  quadrangle . 109,  115-116 

in  Canton  and  Avon  quad¬ 
rangles  . 92-94 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle. .  .  .  157,  170 

Pig  iron,  production  of .  42 

Publications  in  1915 .  21 

Pyrite,  production  of .  63 


N 


R 


Natural  gas  in  glacial  drift . 45,97 

production  of . 44-46 

New  Hebron  pool,  description  of 

.  126-127 

gas  sand  in .  118 

relation  of,  to  Robinson  sand..  130 

salt  water  in .  141 


Niagaran  limestone,  oil  in . .  . .  78,  91-99 


O 


Oil,  character  of . 139-140 

in  Birds  quadrangle . 120-130 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle. ...  158-164 

production  of . 36,  42-44,  72 

studies  of . 16-17,  24,  29 

Overflowed  lands,  study  of .  18 


P 

Parker  pool,  description  of .  122 

relation  of,  to  Robinson  sand 

.  130,  131 

salt  water  in .  140 

Parker  well,  log  of . 111-112 

Pennsylvanian  series  in  Birds 

quadrangle . 109,  115-116,145 

in  Canton  and  Avon  quadran¬ 
gles  . 92,  93,94 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle.  156-157,  170 

Petroleum,  see  Oil 

Pike  County,  gas  in .  45 

Platteville  -  Galena  limestone, 
limestone  quarries  in .  51 

Pleistocene  deposits  in  Birds 

quadrangle  .  108 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle.  150,  157-158 


Robinson  sand  in  Birds  quad¬ 
rangle . 116-117,  118,  119-142 


salt  water  in . 140-142 

Robinson  well,  log  of . 112-114 

Rushville,  oil  tests  near .  79 


St.  Francisville  pool,  description 

o  f  . 169-171 

sands  in .  156,  160,  161 

structure  of .  173 

St.  Louis  formation  in  Birds 

quadrangle . 109-114 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle .  150 

St.  Peter  sandstone  in  Canton  and 

Avon  quadrangles  .  95 

Ste.  Genevieve  limestone  in  Birds 

quadrangle  . 109-114,  145 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle . 

. 156,  158-159, 171 

Salem  formation  in  Birds  quad¬ 
rangle  . 109-114 

Salt  water  phenomena  in  Birds 

quadrangle  . 140-142 

Sand  and  gravel,  production  of.. 55-60 

Sandoval,  quality  of  gas  at .  88 

development  of .  44 

Sandstone,  production  of .  50 

Scott  Mill  dome,  oil  tests  in .  79 

Schuyler  County,  oil  field  in.... 

. 29,  79-80,  86 

Silica,  production  of . 62-63 

Silver,  production  of  . 63-66 

Spanish  Needle  Creek  dome, 

in .  29,  45,  83 


180 


INDEX — Continued 


PAGE 

Staunton  oil  and  gas  field . 

. 29,  42,  45,  80-85,  86 

quality  of  gas  at .  88 

Stratigraphy,  work  on .  15 

Sulphuric  acid,  production  of....  63 

Swearengen  pool,  description  of. .  130 

salt  water  in .  141 

Sweetland  Creek  shale  in  Canton 

and  Avon  quadrangles . 92,95 

T 

Terra  cotta,  production  of . 47-48 

Tile,  production  of . 47-48 

Topographic  work . 18-20,  23-24 

Tracey  hole  No.  2,  log  of . 154-155 

Tracey  sand  in  Birds  quadrangle  145 

in  Vincennes  quadrangle . 

.  156,  160,  167, 170 


PAGE 

V 

Vincennes  quadrangle,  oil  and  gas 

in  . 147-175 

W 

Wabash  County,  oil  development 

in  .  77 

Wapsipinicon  limestone  in  Canton 


and  Avon  quadrangles . 92,95 

Water,  studies  of .  17 

Weger  pool,  character  of  oil  in..  139 

description  of . 128-129 

relation  of,  to  Robinson  sand 

.  130,131 

salt  water  in .  140 

Wells  in  Birds  quadrangle . 142-145 

Z 

Zinc,  production  of . 63-66 


II  ■■  mm* 


* 


. 


. 


